Pilgrims hope Seip stays at Seasiders
PLYMOUTH Argyle manager Paul Sturrock is cautiously optimistic transfer-listed Marcel Seip will continue his loan spell at Blackpool.
The out-of-favour Dutch defender's one-month stint with the Seasiders finishes this weekend, after which Seip
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(pictured right)
is contractually obliged to return to Plymouth.
Blackpool, who are managed by Sturrock's predecessor in the Home Park hot-seat, Ian Holloway, are away to Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.
It is believed the Pilgrims are hoping Blackpool will bear a greater share of Seip's salary if he stays at the north west club for a second month.
Sturrock admitted there has been no interest elsewhere in Seip, who has a contract with Argyle until 2011.
Joining Seip on Argyle's unwanted list is club record signing Steve MacLean, who has been told he can leave Home Park.
A frustrated Sturrock said there had also been no interest shown in striker MacLean.
Sturrock had been planning to discuss the future of fringe players with the Argyle board in London yesterday.
One option being considered is that the club could settle contracts of out-of-favour players.
"That's something we'd like to look into, because we're in limbo land with one or two players," said Sturrock. "That's something we're going to have to discuss with the board.
"MacLean? there's been no interest in him whatsoever.
"The assessment I'm having to make at this minute in time is the extension of players' contracts.
"The board, like me, have made it plain they would like to keep what we call prized assets – and do something about the other ones."
Seip's sojourn with in-form Blackpool began on October 29 and has been successful, with the 27-year-old scoring twice and yet to finish on the losing side.
One of those goals came on Seip's debut – against the Pilgrims – at Bloomfield Road on October 17.
Both parties, Sturrock and Seip, have made it plain – most publicly the latter – that they cannot work together and therefore any future association is, at this point, a non-starter.
After the 2-0 victory over the Pilgrims, Seip said he would not play for Argyle again while Sturrock was manager.
Now Seip, who is married to Argyle deputy chairman Paul Stapleton's daughter Lucy, appears to have burned his bridges with his Pilgrims' team-mates.
He expressed his disappointment of the conduct of the players in the 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town at Home Park last Saturday.
Several Argyle players sped towards the directors' box giving a thumbs-up gesture after skipper Carl Fletcher's goal.
The players felt, Fletcher explained, Seip's wife and mother-in-law had appeared disloyal to Argyle by giving a thumbs-up from the Bloomfield Road directors' box.
Seip said the matter has been blown out of all proportion, but was critical of the Argyle players and encouraged them to stick to playing football.
"I am disappointed the players felt they needed to react in the way they did," Seip told the Blackpool Gazette.
"Just because I was allowed to play against Argyle and my wife and mother-in-law gave me a thumbs-up after the game.
"After every game they give me a thumbs-up – even if we lose.
"They were disappointed Argyle lost but also happy I played well.
"They are Argyle fans but they are also my family.
"The fact that I was allowed to play was nothing to do with my family.
"It was the decision of the manager and the Argyle board.
"I think the issue has been discussed enough now.
"All I want to do is concentrate on my football. The Argyle players should do the same."
PLYMOUTH WORLD CUP BID HITS WESTMINSTER – PAGE 3
32 Comments
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by sensiblegreeny, Plymouth
Thursday, October 29 2009, 10:28PM
“Steve, like a lot of people you talk through your rear end. You know absolutely nothing, that's zero, about what Stapleton has invested in or got out of Argyle. Nor do I. You make wild allegations as if they were factual. What I do know is that Stapleton was in charge of the most productive period in Argyle's history. There is no evidence he fleeced the club then or that he is looking for a handout or profit now. I'm not a supporter of the ex chairman, I only know him through his involvement with Argyle. What is the story here really. Somebody gave a thumbs up to their husband. If I was the father of a professional player and he played against Argyle what would I do as a life long green? Acknowledge him on the pitch and hope he played well. Get real. The Herald should not have persued this story in the firfst place and neither should they continue to drag it up to stoke the feeding frenzy of the uninformed.”
by Steve, Plymouth
Thursday, October 29 2009, 10:01PM
“By some of the comments on here it sounds like we have the attention of The Stapleton Clan fan club. Or more dirty tricks by them to undermine Sturrock due to family commitments? The answer to all this is to get rid of Stapleton so that the focus is on team affairs for a change. Stapleton is only concerned with one thing...making money through property development. He smells money and thats the reason he is still hanging around....sucking the lifeblood out of Argyle. Go now Stapleton!!”
by Friend ot the Stapletons, Close to the truth
Thursday, October 29 2009, 9:31PM
“callygreen Before you spout such tripe kindly get your facts correct. You have demonstrated a complete lack of both understasnding and knowledge of this situation. Marcel Seip is a Sturrock scapegoat another in the sequence of diverting the attention away from the sour and selfcentred Scot. Who is to blame for the poor results and performances. Who wasted all the money on poor players. Who destroys the morale of the team argues with the layers. Got it The Dictator of Dundee origin. His background team are banished so as he can save his skin.Can no-one see thru the Scot who is hell bent on doing it his way regardless of the damafe and the fete of relegation . So callygreen wake up see what is in fropnt of your eyes or go and preach elsewhere.”
by Jon, Ivybridge
Thursday, October 29 2009, 9:26PM
“Washing dirty linen in public is never good for anyone. Seip, the Stapleton family, Sturrock, the rest of the board and those of the squad who "celebrated" with the thumbs all have to take responsibility for their actions which have all contributed to this aboration.
There is just no right to any of this.
The last time the club had this sort of crisis we ended up with Peter Shilton's gambling habits plastered all over the back and front pages and more importantly a doomed relegation season.
Just when we should be concentrating on the on the field stuff we have all this petty squabbling.
Much as I would like Seip in the side as a player he has now burned his bridges whether Sturrock remains as manager or not.
Lets all draw a line under this sorry episode and concentrate on the real issue - supporting the team and trying to stay in the Championship.”
by sensiblegreeny, Plymouth
Thursday, October 29 2009, 8:39PM
“It is within the interests of the Herald to keep this story going. It is also within their interests to have as much unrest at the club which in turn gives them much to write about. Herald, leave it alone now and stop stirring up all this nonsense. If you care anything about Argyle try giving us a positive story for once. You aren't the News of the World.”