Reeves released as he did not fit Argyle’s style
MIDFIELDER Ben Reeves was not suited to Plymouth Argyle’s style of play, manager Ryan Lowe has admitted as he discussed the Home Park exit of the former Northern Ireland international.
The 29-year-old arrived at Home Park with a proven League One pedigree last summer when he was signed by Lowe on a one-year contract after a pre-season trial period.
Reeves knew all about the third tier of English football after two spells at MK Dons and one with Charlton Athletic and it was thought that his experience would be valuable for the newly-promoted Pilgrims.
However, after missing the start of pre-season training, it took him time to get up to speed with the rest of the squad.
Reeves did not make his first competitive appearance for Argyle until a month into the campaign, as a substitute in the 1-0 League One defeat at Hull City at the start of October.
The midfielder went on to make a total of 32 appearances, but only eight of them were five starts and just five of those came in the league.
The last one was in the seasonending 1-0 defeat away to Gillingham on Sunday, when the busy Reeves was one of the Pilgrims’ best players.
Argyle’s retained list was announced the following day and Reeves was among 10 out-of-contract players not to be offered new deals.
Lowe said: “Reevesy is a fantastic footballer, a lovely person, a great lad to have around but didn’t suit my style.”
Another midfielder signed by Lowe last summer, Lewis Macleod, is also being released by Argyle with his one-year contract running out at the end of June.
A player of undoubted ability, Macleod was unable to stay fit as injuries troubled him throughout the campaign.
It meant the 26-year-old Scottish midfielder made only 12 starts and five substitute appearances, with his last game coming in the 6-0 thrashing by Charlton Athletic at Home Park on April 20.
Lowe said: “You could see his quality in the games he played for us, but it wasn’t to be. He tried his best but just couldn’t stay fit.”
Also being released by Argyle are striker Frank Nouble and defender Scott Wootton, who went out on loan in January to Colchester United and Wigan Athletic respectively.
Nouble had arrived at Home Park last summer on a one-year contract after leaving Colchester but found first team starts and goals hard to come by.
The 29-year-old made a total of 15 starts and 16 substitute appearances for the Pilgrims but netted only twice.
Lowe said: “I spoke to Frank the other day. He said ‘I wish I had worked with you a few years ago when I was a little bit younger’ but he was looking somewhere for a new contract.”
Wootton had been a regular for the Pilgrims when they were promoted from League Two in 2019/20 but his game-time was limited this term before his loan move to Wigan.
Lowe said: “Scotty is a fantastic lad. He got us back up (from League Two) and had a fantastic season. Now he has moved on and is hopefully going to earn himself a contract somewhere else.”
Meanwhile, Lowe has explained why he was so keen for Argyle ‘legend’ Gary Sawyer to remain at Home Park after announcing his retirement from professional football.
Sawyer, 35, has decided to quit playing on medical advice after failing to recover fully from an ankle injury he suffered at the start of this season.
The Pilgrims’ boss said: “In his new role he’s going to be around the players. That was one of the reasons I wanted to keep him.
“We have known for a long while really that he was struggling to come back. He tried and it didn’t work.
“We always wanted to keep Gaz around in some department. We are going to help him with his coaching badges. He’s going to be a club ambassador - I think he has got about 10 titles really! He’s doing loads of jobs.
“He will be someone I can call upon if needed, whether that’s to make sure the lads are all in good spots mentally and physically in terms of how they are.
“When we get the new signings he can make sure they are aware of what’s needed, so he will have loads of different roles.”