STURROCK MISSES OUT ON TARGETS

MANAGER Paul Sturrock has had further setbacks in his attempts to strengthen his Plymouth Argyle squad.

Sturrock admitted he had failed to capture 'a couple' of his transfer targets over recent days.

The 2008/09 Championship season starts on Saturday week, August 9, and Sturrock wants to add three or four more players before then.

Among the players Sturrock has been linked with are Bristol Rovers defender Danny Coles, Coventry City striker Kevin Kyle and Crystal Palace midfielder Carl Fletcher.

It is thought Sturrock has targeted 28-year-old Fletcher as a possible new captain of the Pilgrims.

Sturrock said: “The frustrating thing is that we just keep battering our heads against a brick wall as far as players are concerned.

“We have looked at a certain system change (to 4-3-3) in pre-season, which we have done quite well with.

“To be fair, the players have responded very well to everything we have asked them to do so far.

“But I'm very frustrated I haven't been able to help them in the transfer market.

“I have had a couple of setbacks recently, but that's football.

“There is no point starting to panic and bringing in two or three new boys who don't fit in to what we are trying to achieve.

“I'm trying to bring a certain style of player into the football club, which cuts down your selection.”

Argyle sold Hungarian international midfielder Peter Halmosi to Premier League newcomers Hull City for £2 million earlier this month.

But Sturrock has not been told by the Pilgrims' board of directors exactly how much of that money he can spend on new recruits.

Sturrock said: “No football manager gets told to the penny what he is going to get.

“But the essence of it all is they haven't in any way shot me down in flames as far the players I'm trying to get in.

“In this day and age, transfer fees are done in dated payments, based on games played, and all sorts of things.

“It's very difficult for anybody to have a clear picture of how much there is in the kitty.”

Argyle will play the first of two pre-season friendlies on successive days when they face Yeovil Town at Huish Park tonight (7.45pm).

The Pilgrims will also take on newly-promoted Southern League club Truro City at Treyew Road tomorrow (7.30pm).

All of the Argyle squad are expected to start at least one of the matches, with a slightly stronger side being sent by Sturrock to face Yeovil.

The League One club were beaten semi-finalists in the Errea South West Challenge in north Devon last week.

Yeovil had wins against Kidderminster Harriers (2-0) and Chertsey Town (4-1) before losing to Torquay United.

Their semi-final in Barnstaple actually ended in a 1-1 draw, but Torquay won 5-3 on penalties.

Earlier in pre-season, Yeovil won 2-0 at home to Barnsley but then crashed to a 3-0 defeat by Bristol City at Huish Park.

Meanwhile, Argyle striker Rory Fallon returned to training yesterday after being sidelined by a groin injury at the end of the club's training camp in Austria last week.

But Sturrock said: “We picked up a couple of wee niggling knocks yesterday because it is pretty hard out there (at the training ground). Touch wood, they will be okay.”

There will be no trialists playing for Argyle against Yeovil or Truro, and Sturrock admitted there were unlikely to be any more before the start of the season.

Sturrock said: “To be fair, we have no time now to be experimenting. If we are going to bring players in, they have got to be ones who are going to fit right into our squad.”