Sport Football Plymouth Argyle LIVE Updated 3 hours ago Plymouth Argyle Fans' Forum Recap: Club set to lose £10.6m this season Argyle owner and chairman Simon Hallett and CEO Paul Berne both outlined the club's financial position to an audience of supporters A general view of Home Park - Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK Comments Sport Chris Errington Football Reporter Updated 20:48, 23 Apr 2026 Plymouth Argyle are set to have operating losses of £10.6 million this season, chief executive officer Paul Berne revealed at a Fans' Forum at Home Park on Thursday night. Turnover is expected to be £18.5m, with a loss before player trading of £11.2m, Berne told an audience of supporters in Club Argyle. Player trading of £600,000 will slightly reduce that deficit to £10.6m. Argyle's football budget this season has been £10m, which is £4m more than when the club were last in League One in 2022/23. That has placed them seventh in the division. You can read more of our Argyle stories from Plymouth Live by clicking HERE Berne said: "We are striking a similar budget for next year, which we expect to be similarly competitive. We are planning to retain all contracted players, and round out the squad with the seven or eight contracts coming to an end which are currently under review." Over the last 12 months, the club has needed £20m to cover losses, and to cover Foulston Park developments, and other capital. Berne said: 'We took the decision to reinvest transfer proceeds from 2025/26 into the club, and this has been significantly supplemented by injection from shareholders, mostly Simon (Hallett, Argyle's owner and chairman)." The funding income of £20.4m was £15.3m shareholder injection (mainly Hallett), £4.7m transfer income and £400,000 of 'other movements' Scroll below for all the updates from Chris Errington at Home Park: New Updates 23rd Apr 20:42 BST That's a wrap After an hour and 40 minutes, the Fans' Forum comes to an end. Much of it was based around Argyle's financial position and the search for new investment but all sorts of topics were covered including season ticket price rises, Foulston Park and the academy set-up, the women's team and even the future of Michael Baidoo, the costly £1.5 m signing currently on loan to a club in Qatar. Take a look at the Plymouth Live website tomorrow for more in-depth details about what was said during the evening. Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 20:33 BST Opening date for Foulston Park Foulston Park, the new permanent home for Argyle's academy and the women's team, is scheduled to open 'in the autumn', says Paul Berne. Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 20:22 BST 'Around 18-19' club staff made redundant Paul Berne says he 'is not going to talk about individuals, it's simply not fair'. More generally, he says 'It's not something we want to do. We are trying to reduce the cost base of the club.' Around 18, 19 people were made redundant across all areas of the club. Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 20:13 BST Light-hearted break Simon Hallett has just received a video phone call. 'I'm in a meeting with about 100 people," he says, to laughter from the assembled fans. Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 20:10 BST Player trading update The question has been asked whether Argyle will be actively looking to sell any of their players, such as Lorent Tolaj and Bim Pepple. Simon Hallett says the club are 'not actively looking to' but adds: "If somebody comes along and offers us a crazy amount - a decent amount - for any of them then we will consider selling them. That's the model." Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 20:00 BST Season ticket debate Paul Berne has given a detailed explanation for Argyle's increased season ticket prices for 2025/26, the sales period and other issues. Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 19:50 BST Foulston Park update Foulston Park is 'running over budget' confirms Paul Berne. 'The project is a little delayed' after a very wet winter, he adds. Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 19:38 BST Cost controls Simon Hallett says there is a League One owners' group which is advocating for cost controls. 'We are putting proposals forward to the EFL' he says. Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 19:31 BST Hallett on search for new investors "We are actively looking for new investors," says Simon Hallett but adds geographical location of Plymouth is an issue, and in football generally "There are plenty of sellers but not so many buyers." Hallett is 'looking for the right person, someone who can help me finance the losses, after that we want someone to invest in the infrastructure going forward.' Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 19:26 BST How the club is funded Over the last 12 months, the club has needed £20m to cover losses, and to cover Foulston Park developments (and other capital). Paul Berne says 'We took the decision to reinvest transfer proceeds from 2025/26 into the club, and this has been significantly supplemented by injection from shreholders, mostly Simon (Hallett).' The funding income of £20.4m was £15.3m shareholder injection (mainly Hallett), £4.7m transfer income and £400,000 'other movements'. Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 19:23 BST Argyle's £10m football budget this season Argyle's football budget for 2026 has been £10m which is £4m more than when the club were last in League One in 2022/23. That has placed the club seventh in League One (at the start of 2025/26 they were sixth). Paul Berne says: "We are striking a similar budget for next year, which we expect to be similarly competitive. We are planning to retain all contracted players, and round out the squad with the seven or eight contracts coming to an end which are currently under review." Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 19:19 BST 'Similar budget next year' Paul Berne says Argyle will have a similar budget next season to this term. 'We want to get back into the Championship, that's our desire.' Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 19:15 BST Argyle facing £10.6m loss in 2025/26 Paul Berne says Argyle are set to lose £10.6 million this season. Turnover is expected to be £18.5m, with a loss before player trading of £11.2m. Player trading of £600,000 will reduce that to £10.6m Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 19:08 BST Three major challenges Paul Berne points to three major challenges: 'Player wages are growing (up around 80 per cent since Argyle last in League One in 2022/23), revenues are not keeping up and inflation affects clubs too.' Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 19:06 BST Berne speaking first Paul Berne is giving an update on Argyle's finances. 'Significant pressure on the finances of every club in the EFL' he says. Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 19:02 BST About to begin Charlie Price welcomes everyone to the fourth Argyle Fans' Forum of the season. Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 19:01 BST Good evening Hello, this is Chris Errington and I'm in Club Argyle at Home Park, along with a couple of hundred Argyle fans, waiting for the start of the Fans' Forum with Simoin Hallett and Argyle's CEO Paul Berne. I will bring you updates on what is said in this live blog over the next hour or so. Content cannot be displayed without consent Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 18:00 BST Argyle 'need new investor' In that same interview earlier this month, Simon Hallett spoke about the search for new investment into Argyle. He said: "I think we have to be patient, because we're so careful about getting the right person in as an investor, or the right group in as investors. "I think three years ago I used the phrase 'tapped out' and there's been a lot more gone into the club since then, so at some point Jane (Hallett's wife) really will take the wallet away and that time's about now. "It's been enough money gone into the club, it's mostly been in infrastructure, which will outlive me, which I'm really pleased about. "But when it starts to cover operating losses then I'm less happy - I want my money to build something permanent for the fans here, not just go into this year's operating expenses, so we need a new investor." Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 18:00 BST Argyle's financial position Simon Hallett is sure to be asked about the club's financial position after he said in a recent interview with BBC South West that Argyle were going to 'lose a lot of money' this season. He said in the interview: "When you come down from the Championship, players have contracts that reduce, but not by enough to cover your costs. "And frankly a few of the other costs in the club had crept up and we weren't aggressive enough in cutting them back, so we were having Championship quality stuff and we didn't go back to League One quality stuff, so again that's something we're going to have to address as well. "At an individual level it's heart-breaking, but we want a sustainable football club one day. We're not going to have one this year; this club is going to lose a lot of money this year like every other League One club these days. "So it's partly football, it's partly not just the Championship - what's happened in the Championship has spread to League One and League Two, so the average club in League One now is losing over £6m a year." Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 18:00 BST Argyle team news for Port Vale with decisions to be made Argyle will have two players back available but another one ruled out when they play Port Vale in their final Home Park fixture of the regular season on Saturday. READ MORE : Plymouth Argyle team news for Port Vale with decisions to be made Argyle midfielder Bradley Ibrahim in the thick of the action during the League One game against Cardiff City at Home Park on 24 February, 2026 - Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 18:00 BST Tom Cleverley keen on signing Argyle loan trio this summer Tom Cleverley has been fulsome in his praise of Plymouth Argyle loan trio Alex Mitchell, Owen Dale and Wes Harding as he confirmed his interest in having all of them back at Home Park next season. READ MORE : Tom Cleverley keen on signing Plymouth Argyle loan trio this summer Goal celebrations for Alex Mitchell of Plymouth Argyle after scoring the opening goal during the Sky Bet League One match between AFC Wimbledon and Plymouth Argyle at The Cherry Red Records Stadium, London on 18 Apr 2026. (Photo: Alan Stanford/PPAUK) Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 18:00 BST Argyle make Joe Edwards contract offer Argyle are offering a new contract to Joe Edwards and Tom Cleverley is hoping an agreement can be reached with the 35-year-old club captain. READ MORE : Plymouth Argyle make Joe Edwards new contract offer Joe Edwards of Plymouth Argyle battles for the ball with Carlos Mendes Gomes of Exeter City during the Sky Bet League One match on 11 April 2026 at Home Park - Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK Comments Chris Errington 23rd Apr 18:00 BST Before we begin Tom Cleverley carried out a Press conference at Home Park shortly after 10am today and there were some interesting stories to come out of what he had to say. Check out the following three posts: Comments Chris Errington Follow Plymouth Live: Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Comments
Curated by Taleb Kabbara · Source: www.plymouthherald.co.uk