PLYMOUTH Argyle manager Paul Sturrock is ready to stage his own version of TV's hit show The X Factor.

Sturrock usually runs the rule over a lot of trialists during pre-season training, but is planning on a different approach this year.

Instead of putting players immediately into first team friendlies and letting them sink or swim, he hopes to hold a closed-door game for a selected group.

Sturrock (pictured right) – Argyle's answer to Simon Cowell – will then decide whether the trialists have what it takes.

Anyone who impresses him will then be taken to Argyle's pre-season training camp at the University of Stirling in Scotland, from July 19-24.

They could then stake a claim to be offered a permanent contract by the Championship club.

Sturrock has had a rethink on his policy over trialists after the disastrous display of one player during a pre-season game last July.

Senegal-born defender Yves Andreas Manga started Argyle's 2-2 draw away to Kidderminster Harriers, but struggled desperately and was substituted at half-time.

Sturrock does not want any repeat of that this year.

He said: "The way I'm thinking of doing it is to have a closed-door game for anybody who we feel is appropriate to come and have a trial.

"Last year, I took a player (Manga) to the game at Kidderminster and the boy looked as if he had just walked off the street.

"The agent didn't enamour himself with me, and the boy actually left the ground before the end of the game so I don't want to go down that road again.

"I would much prefer to have a trial game where a lot of them come in and play away to their heart's content.

"Then if I decide some of them are decent in the positions I need I would take them along to Scotland."

Sturrock continued: "We will try to line up agents to bring in players who are of the standard required for the Championship.

"Now, if there are only half-a-dozen of them, I would put four or five of my lot in and play a practice match on the pitch.

"That's the way I'm going to do it – have a look first and then take them on the tour if I feel they are well worth having a look at.

"There are three positions where I won't be looking for anybody so there is no point bringing somebody in for the sake of making a team up.

"I will make that team up with my own players. But there are eight positions I would have a look at."

Sturrock will stress to the agents that trialists – even those from overseas – will have to pay their own way.

He said: "I'm not paying any money for people to come in. They will have to fly themselves in and accommodate themselves."

Meanwhile, Sturrock has had no official bids for any of his players, but there has been interest in some of them.

Although the Pilgrims' boss is keen to bring in new talent, he is also under pressure to reduce the size of his squad because of financial constraints at Home Park.

Argyle currently have 30 professionals on their books, although that number is set to fall before the start of the new season in August.

Sturrock said: "We have been asked about the availability of certain players and the price range. That's as far as it has gone.

"There has been a lot of general interest where managers are trying to find out the price and where we are at before they go back to their board and talk."

Sturrock also plans to circulate the names of players he is prepared to let leave Home Park to other Football League clubs.

He said: "Managers will be coming back from their holidays now and starting to focus on their squads and everything else.

"So I think it's an appropriate time to make them realise I have got players we want to move on."

Argyle's Championship clash away to Cardiff City on Boxing Day will kick-off at 1pm.