Argyle are yet to receive offers for listed Camara
Want-away midfielder will not be sold to Pilgrims’ League One rivals, says Dewsnip
PLYMOUTH Argyle have had no formal approaches yet for their transfer-listed midfielder Panutche Camara, according to director of football Neil Dewsnip.
There has already been a lot of speculation about the future of the Guinea-Bissau international and there is sure to be plenty more in the coming weeks.
Dewsnip ruled out the prospect of Argyle selling Camara to a club who could be challenging them towards the top of League One next term.
The Pilgrims are looking to cash in on the 25-year-old now, rather than let him leave as a free agent next summer, after he turned down the chance to sign a new long-term contract.
Argyle announced last week that Camara had been made available for transfer two years after joining them from League Two side Crawley Town.
Dewsnip told Plymouth Live: “We have not got anything exciting to tell you because there is no developments. As we speak, we are heading for a scenario whereby he returns to us again, but it’s very early in the process.”
On the possibility of Camara remaining at Argyle into next season, Dewsnip said: “Panutche has been really dedicated to the cause over the last couple of years.
“That’s one between the manager (Steven Schumacher) and Panutche but, personally, I don’t think that’s an issue if we get to that point, but again I stress we are very early in the process.”
Dewsnip accepted that speculation about other clubs being interested in signing Camara was inevitable.
He said: “With respect, the media sometimes plays games. All I’m doing is telling you the reality is we have not had any formal approaches so far.”
And on whether Argyle would sell Camara to a League One rival, Dewsnip said: “I don’t think that would work for anybody.
“I think that’s kind of common sense really. I would hate an Argyle supporter to think that he is competing against us for the same prize.”
Sheffield Wednesday, who lost to Sunderland last week in the League One play-off semi-finals, are one of the clubs to have been linked with the strong-running midfielder.
Meanwhile, Simon Hallett’s call for the removal of the Saturday blackout rule in the EFL has generated a lot of debate and contrasting views among the Green Army.
Currently, there is a blackout between 2.45pm and 5.15pm when matches cannot be televised or streamed live in order to protect attendances throughout the football pyramid. But in an interview, Hallett said: “My basic belief is that fans should be able to watch their clubs any way they want to.”
There have been reports in the media there will be discussions among clubs at the EFL’s AGM next month about possibly changing the rules to allow live streaming of 3pm Saturday games on services such as Argyle TV.
Our Argyle reporter Chris Errington posed the following question on Twitter and received a lot of replies to it.
“Do you agree with Simon Hallett (on the blackout being lifted) or would it have too much of an impact on attendances, not only at Argyle but throughout the football pyramid?
Among the many replies was this one from Mark Sheldon: “I like the idea. Getting a couple of thousand in
Home Park to collectively watch away games. I always struggle to get to games due to work, so I would be able to get a pass to watch those games. I don’t see the harm? It wouldn’t stop me getting tickets to the games I could.”
Former Argyle club president Chris Webb had some interesting points not just related to the football side of it.
He said: “This isn’t thought through. Comparison of giving away clubs % of TV £ doesn’t wash. If we take 1,800 away that’s not just club we visit who will miss out under this proposal but the local pubs, restaurants, hotels etc. Would love to see fans engaged before putting this forward.”
In response to Webb’s comments, Ray Mansell added: “I think Simon Hallett views are based on an American sport perception ,football clubs in the UK are part of the fabric of local towns/cities, apart from the local economic effects many clubs would fold, it’s not well supported amongst EFL chairman!”
Spencer Jago was in favour of lifting the blackout. “Why not? The world has changed. A lot of big crowds in the EPL are made up of football tourists and the atmosphere is pretty flat anyway.
“If the demand is there for TV give it a go, it’s unlikely to affect the attendance much and may bring in new advertising revenue as well.”
Tim Cotton had a differing opinion. He said: “I think we should keep 3pm blackout and I say this as an exile that can’t get to many games at all.
“It would massively hamper attendance IMO so to make up for lost revenue you’d have to sell huge numbers of virtual tickets.”
The view of Dave Summers was: “I think it has been proven that Argyle’s attendances wouldn’t be affected too much, but I fear for smaller clubs that live in the shadow of much larger ones, like Accrington for example.”
And David Evans tweeted: “S wonderful owner but this is not a good idea on a wet and windy November afternoon people will stream the match and not pay to go to the match.”
Gareth Davies, head of media at the Cornwall Rugby League Club, also had an interesting perspective on the debate.
He tweeted: “All but one of our home and away games for this year (20 in total) is being live streamed for free. As of now, seven games in, this has not had a detrimental effect on attendances.”
81Beesfan had an interesting point in the knock-on affect it could have for non-League clubs such as Plymouth Parkway, Tavistock and Saltash United, whose attendances are boosted when Argyle are away from home.
“I don’t agree with him,” he said. “I think it would be bound to depress attendances at non league games in particular. If Premier League games could be shown live at 3PM on a Sat, it would affect Argyle and the rest of the EFL too.”
Olly Lovell added: “Would kill the non league which in return would effect the rest of the footballing pyramid.”