FORMER Greens hot-shot Sean McCarthy has called on Plymouth

Argyle fans to be patient with boss Paul Sturrock's evolving

team.

Sturrock has repeatedly voiced his frustration over the

club's failure to land player targets during the off

season.

Argyle's pre-season matches have also not been encouraging,

with defeats at home to Sturrock's former club Dundee United

and away at Yeovil.

But McCarthy (pictured right), who is himself

launching a new managerial career with Southern League club

Truro City, said he was convinced Scotsman Sturrock was the man

to turn the team around.

McCarthy said: “A lot of players have left for various

reasons – Sylvan Ebanks-Blake had a clause in his contract,

David Norris wanted to go and Paul Connolly's contract was

up.

“Paul Sturrock's hands were tied and now he has got to work

hard to build up a team again, which I don't think is going to

happen overnight.

“The supporters have got to be patient – Argyle finished in

the top half of the table last season and for them to do that

is some achievement.

“Paul has got to build a squad that he wants and I think he

will get there. He's very shrewd in the transfer market and

knows he has to bring in quality players for less money.”

McCarthy, also a former Welsh international, said he had

seen Argyle three times in pre-season matches – including his

team Truro City's 1-0 defeat by the Pilgrims.

He said: “He (Sturrock) is experimenting and I am sure the

team that he puts out on Saturday (in Argyle's first

Championship game against Wolves at Home Park) will be very

different.

“I think the team is not yet a finished article, but I also

think that he will get it right.”

Some sections of Argyle supporters have already written off

their team's chances of even staying in the Championship.

Argyle are struggling to attract so-called top-flight

players to Home Park because they either cannot not afford the

player's transfer fees, or their wages, or both.

But McCarthy, who made 175 appearances for the Pilgrims in

two stints at Home Park and scored 47 goals, said it was too

early to be negative about Argyle's Championship hopes.

He said: “It's not the time to be negative – people should

be getting behind the club.

“It's not going to be an easy season, but Paul Sturrock is

rebuilding the side and if anybody can do it, he can. Results

from pre-season games are not something that bother me too

much, to be honest, because the main aim is to get the lads

fit.

“Managers want to get it right for the start of the season,

but they are also worried about players giving 100 per cent in

case they get injured. Deep down, I suspect Paul knows his

strongest side for Saturday.”

Queens Park Rangers midfielder Simon Walton, 20, is having a

medical with Argyle today with a view to a £750,000

transfer.

Walton has already agreed personal terms with the Pilgrims

and is set to become Sturrock's sixth summer signing.