Plymouth CEO talks Gareth Bale takeover reports and Tom Cleverley gets message from Wayne Rooney

Plymouth CEO Andrew Parkinson talks Gareth Bale takeover reports and Tom Cleverley gets a message from former manager Wayne Rooney.

Argyle chairman Simon Hallett said he’s looking for new investment, and the club was surprisingly linked last week with a bidder that included Gareth Bale among their consortium, as per reports by The Telegraph.

Andrew Parkinson described it as speculation, saying the club isn’t ready to discuss specific investors and emphasised finding the right long-term investors, with current shareholders committed to funding the club for the 2025/26 season.

Ongoing discussions with potential investors will continue without a set timeline to ensure stability.

New Head Coach Tom Cleverley meanwhile says he researched the club thoroughly, receiving glowing references from Wayne Rooney and others familiar with Argyle.

He aims to build a sustainable, long-term project at the club with the primary goal being promotion, but also with a flexible, adaptable process to ensure lasting success, avoiding rigid strategies.

Plymouth Argyle CEO Andrew Parkinson responds to reports of a Gareth Bale-fronted takeover bid: “That was really speculation, and, you would expect me to say really that we’re not in a position to be able to talk about any individuals or any investors.

“But, of course, when we have got the opportunity to do that, we will do that.

“I think the main thing I think Simon said this, you know, numerous times. It’s about getting the right people to be involved in the club for the long term.

“Simon and the other shareholders as well have committed, certainly for this season to to do that and provide the right finances, right across the board.

“And, obviously, we’ll continue discussions in the lot for the for the long term, how that looks, how that shapes, not the timetables on it.

“Because I think that that, you know, it it shows by doing that, It, you know, it’s not good for everyone in that respect, but we’ll continue to have those discussions with, potential investors.”

The @Argyle CEO Andrew Parkinson was today repeatedly asked about reports a US-based consortium fronted by Gareth Bale are looking to invest in #pafc https://t.co/1GQ8tQG2qD pic.twitter.com/78sUwoqE6Z

— Greatest Hits Radio Plymouth News (@GhrPlymouth) June 19, 2025

The new Argyle boss Tom Cleverley said: “I spoke not just with Wayne but other people who I know that have played for or coached at the club.

“He gave the club and the place a glowing reference and he’s obviously someone’s opinion that I can trust.

“I played with him for many years and I think it’s important that I did some references, but most of all is what I see now through my own eyes.

“That will really start on Monday when I get on the pitch with the players and I make my own judgements, but I like to thoroughly research whatever I’m about to dive in to and the references were glowing.”

“It’s obviously a football club that has its challenges being the head coach,” Cleverley added.

“I had 14 months there that have really given me some good experience to handle things throughout the rest of my career.

“I’m grateful for that experience and now I feel like I can really translate that into a longer term project with real stability and I think you’ll see me flourish as a coach.”

On aiming for promotion: “The number one goal, you know, we wanna be promoted.

“But I also want to create a long term process that doesn’t just mean we’re promoted or we’re winning games over a short term.

“I want to create a process that can have real sustainability to it and and where when we eventually do go up the level, it’s a process that we can continue, adapt.

“I’m not someone who can’t see, you have to be adaptable during when you have a process.

“It’s not, we’re never gonna be too rigid, or too stubborn.

“I’m someone who does like to listen and and get people’s opinion and and adapt from there whilst having a course set of principles.

“It’s been such a welcoming start that the people around the club, the people around, the place.

“I knew before I came here how much this football club, unites the community, and I really like that.

“I feel like football is a great tool to unite people, and a community and and another reason why it really appealed to me.

“So, yeah, the weather’s been great. The people have been very welcoming, and I can’t wait to start the football.”

The new @Argyle boss says he’s aiming for promotion – and has thanked the club and fans for a warm welcome so far #pafc pic.twitter.com/FdxcUC2vx5

— Greatest Hits Radio Plymouth News (@GhrPlymouth) June 19, 2025

Here’s how fans reacted as the Plymouth CEO talks Gareth Bale takeover reports and Tom Cleverley gets a message from Wayne Rooney…

@Richard84185456: Mate argyle keeping it quiet

@CarlBarnard15: Some grin on his face when asked though. 😁

@watson37uk: Oh dear , Mondays optimism is waning fast

@BattMorbon: Hopefully accurate speculation

@adenutba1: doesn’t really answer much, but then again there is only so much they can say

@StevieWotsa: No chance are we bouncing back too much background work that needs to be done. Welcome to Argyle Tom To the board please stand by him for the long term please has supporters we will have ups and downs. But this is a season of reset anything good for us fans will be a bonus. Some of us fans are realists Tom so no worrys! Good Luck Tom we are with you!!