Plymouth Argyle issue cryptic response to shock Gareth Bale takeover links
Plymouth Argyle issue cryptic response to shock Gareth Bale takeover links
The Welsh football great is reportedly part of a consortium bidding to take over the League One side
Gareth Bale
(Image: PA Wire )
Plymouth Argyle chief executive Andrew Parkinson has refused to rule out reports linking Gareth Bale with a sensational move into football club ownership, describing the former Real Madrid star's involvement in a takeover bid as "speculation" at this stage.
Stories first published by The Telegraph earlier this week claimed that a United States-based private equity group, fronted by Bale and involving members of the Storch family, was in discussions to purchase full control of the League One club. However, Parkinson was quick to dampen the excitement surrounding the links when questioned at new head coach Tom Cleverley's unveiling at Home Park on Thursday.
'That was really speculation,' Parkinson said.
'You would expect me to say that we are 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.'
While neither confirming nor directly denying contact with Bale's consortium, Parkinson reiterated majority owner Simon Hallett's long-standing openness to external investment.
Hallett revealed on May 31 that a year-long negotiation with a potential investor had collapsed, and that the club continues to seek the right partners for sustainable long-term growth.
Article continues below
'I think Simon has said this numerous times, it's about getting the right people to be involved in the club for the long term,' Parkinson added.
'Simon and the other shareholders have committed for this season to do that and provide the right finances across the board. We will continue discussions for the long term.'
The latest reports placed Bale as the public face of the American-led group and suggested he could even assume a chairman-style role if the bid succeeded—mirroring the involvement of former teammate Luka Modric, now a minority shareholder at Swansea City.
The Welshman has been out of football since confirming his retirement back in January 2023, shortly after leading his side into the World Cup in Qatar, where they were unfortunately eliminated in the group stages. He finished his club career in the US playing for Los Angeles FC and still spends a lot of time in America.
Other celebrity names below the Premier League include NFL legend Tom Brady, who purchased a stake in Birmingham City before they won promotion back to the Championship last season.
Meanwhile, American golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas snapped up shares in Leeds United before the club sealed their return to the Premier League.
Bale has no previous connection to Plymouth, and the move would clearly come as a huge surprise, although a takeover of the Pilgrims has seemingly been on the cards for some time.
Argyle's leadership, however, appear to be keen to keep expectations in check as they attempt to stabilise after a turbulent 18 months that have included five head coaches and relegation from the Championship.
Parkinson said the club remains focused on bouncing back under new boss Cleverley, while also building a more robust foundation behind the scenes.
'This is about the long term,' he said. 'It's about how we grow as a football club, how we develop, how we bring players on. We want long-term growth, not just going up and down.'
For Bale, whose retirement in early 2023 ended a glittering playing career—including five Champions League titles and stints with Spurs, Real Madrid and LAFC—the links to Argyle mark the latest twist in his post-football evolution.
While he's since built a profile as a businessman and pundit, a role in club ownership would represent a significant step into football's boardroom.
Article continues below
Whether that step will come at Home Park remains to be seen. For now, Plymouth are staying tight-lipped—and Bale's potential leap from superstar to chairman remains just that: potential.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
23 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Former Caernarfon coaching inn could be converted into block of flats
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An historic former coaching inn more recently used as council offices in Caernarfon could soon become homes, if planners agree. The striking building which is on High Street and Shirehall Street was once the Hen Gwesty Mona - the Old Mona Hotel. Cyngor Gwynedd has received a change of use application for five residential flats, including an extension at the rear. The plans also include air source heat pumps and a new door to the refuse store. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday The application has been made by Rhys Carden (Cyngor Gwynedd). Plans say the building was originally established as a coaching inn. It served travellers, cashing in on its strategic location near important routes and the once thriving port of Caernarfon. Over the years, the inn has changed hands multiple times but historically offered accommodation, food, and drink. The striking building is a landmark within Caernarfon and "showcases traditional Welsh architectural features, contributing to its charm and historical significance and reflecting the town's cultural heritage," the plans say. (Image: google map) The property lies within the Caernarfon Conservation Area and within the Walled Town which is a World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO. The nearby town walls and Porth yr Aur are ancient monuments and Grade-I listed buildings. The structure physically adjoins the Caernarfon Social Club on Stryd Fawr and No. 3 Stryd y Farchnad, which are both Grade-II listed buildings. The design and access statement says: "From what we can gather the building was converted from the Mona Hotel to council offices for the council's internal audit in 1963. "A rear portion of the building was demolished in the early 1980s to make space for the Council's Dafydd Orwig Chamber which is now linked to the building. (Image: Cyngor Gwynedd planning doc) "The building currently houses the council's trading standards and environmental health teams." The building features a Victorian style, with plain and colourful painted brick work. It also boasts ornate gables, sliding sash windows, towers and turrets. The application states that the council had also identified that the requirement for office space has reduced since the pandemic in 2020, and due to the number of employees working from home having "increased significantly". "As a result a need for housing in the locality has come to light. which secures the longevity of the building," it stated. The plans note the proposed works are to remodel the interior to form accommodation, and to extend the property to the rear to form homes to Welsh Design Quality Requirements. The proposal would see the building reconfigured to form five apartments with a central staircase. The ground floor apartment has been designed to accommodate wheelchair users. They also say providing a change of use for the building "will provide much needed accommodation for the town and ensure an existing building is not left derelict and in disrepair". Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
Western Telegraph
30 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Mulberry in talks over £20m cash-call as losses widen
The Somerset-based firm said it was launching the cash-call after a 'post-2024-25 year-end review by the executive management, and in light of an even more challenging trading environment'. It added: 'The board has concluded that the company will require additional capital to fund its growth strategy and achieve its desired financial targets.' Shares in the firm plunged 11% in Friday afternoon trading. Mulberry said it was in discussions with majority shareholder Challice – a group controlled by Singaporean entrepreneur Christina Ong and husband Ong Beng Seng – and major stakeholder Mike Ashley's Frasers Group over the fundraising. It comes as Mulberry expects to slump to an underlying pre-tax loss of around £23 million for the year to March 29 against losses of £22.6 million the previous year. The group is set to report annual revenues tumbling 21% to around £120 million, adding that it does expect 'material overall revenue growth' in the new financial year. Andrea Baldo, chief executive of Mulberry, said the group had taken action to overhaul the business and cut costs as part of plans laid out in January, including shutting some stores. It already axed around 85 jobs in the run-up to Christmas – around a quarter of its workforce – largely impacting head office workers. Mr Baldo said: 'In the near term, we are firmly in turnaround mode, focused on rebuilding profitability and gross margin, while strategically investing in brand building initiatives.' He added: 'We've taken action to reduce costs – restructuring head office and exiting unprofitable stores, delivering a lower run-rate cost base into 2025-26. 'Following our year-end review, the board and I are confident that, with additional funding, we can accelerate momentum and deliver against our targets at pace.' The firm said shareholder Challice was willing to underwrite the fundraising in full, but Mulberry said it hoped Frasers would also take part. 'Whilst these discussions are ongoing, the board notes that it may not be possible for all parties to agree fully on the structure of the fundraising, in which case the board… will conclude on the most appropriate structure for the company,' Mulberry said. It expects to complete the fundraising in July, to coincide with the publication of its annual results. Mr Baldo, who joined the group in September last year from Ganni, is restructuring the business with a focus on the UK market, rather than China, under aims to turn around its fortunes. Founded in 1971 in Somerset, Mulberry is most famous for its luxury, leather handbags. But it has seen trading hit hard in recent years, partly as a result of waning appetite for luxury goods among Chinese consumers, previously a key market for the fashion company. Mr Baldo said, in January, the company will focus less on China and close 12 stores across its Asian estate while aiming to open more shops in UK cities in future.
Western Telegraph
30 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Leaders on both sides of the border urge completion of Casement Park
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill said that it is now time for all those involved to sit around the table and find a way to start and complete the project. Irish premier Micheal Martin said the opportunity to build the stadium should 'be seized', while deputy premier Simon Harris warned against looking back to see that the moment was 'squandered'. Earlier this month, a UK Government pledge of £50 million for the development of the west Belfast GAA stadium was included in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spending review. However, that pledge still leaves the project far from its funding target under current plans. Plans for a 34,000-capacity stadium at the site have been mired in uncertainty because of a major funding gap. Stormont ministers committed £62.5 million to Casement in 2011, as part of a strategy to revamp it along with football's Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill. While the two other Belfast-based projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement was delayed for several years because of legal challenges by local residents. The estimated cost spiralled in the interim. Speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Armagh, Ms O'Neill said it is time for all partners to 'find a way to complete' Casement Park. Ms O'Neill said: 'We all have a role in making sure we get to that point.' Asked if the GAA should reconsider the plans for the west Belfast stadium development based on existing commitments for funding, Ms O'Neill said the stadium is now more expensive than if it had been built 'a long time ago'. She said the delays were due to a 'whole plague of problems' including planning and political issues. She said the redevelopment would bring 'major social and economic benefits'. Ms O'Neill added that Casement Park is an Executive flagship project. 'We now know what the pot of funding that we have on the table, but now it's time for all partners involved to get together and sit around the table and find a way now to complete and start the work on the project and to complete the project,' she added. 'I think we all have a role to play in terms of making sure we get to that point. 'But I think it's now time that we now know and understand the quantum of funding, that we now sit down together and actually work out the next step.' Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said it is 'now over to the GAA' to set out their expectations on their own contribution to the west Belfast stadium and any potential revisions to the development. She said there was a 'significant amount of need' in other sporting areas across the region with other facilities also needing to be upgraded. She added: 'We need to do so with fairness and equity. 'They are sitting on, I think, approximately £161 or £162 million worth of public spending. 'It's now over to the GAA to decide can they cut their coat according to their cloth, or what their expectations are in relation to their own contribution.' She added that the GAA can 'do a huge amount' with existing funding commitments for Casement Park, and that the GAA should indicate what its contribution increase should be. Mr Martin said the Irish Government had given a 'very substantial' allocation to the project. 'I believe the prospect really exists for a stadium to be agreed and built and this is an opportunity that should be seized in a practical and realistic way.' Mr Harris said the recent UK funding announcement was a 'huge step forward' for the project. He said the Irish Government stands ready to assist the project and warned against looking back to see that the moment was 'squandered'.
