Hallett is close to finalising deal with investors

ARGYLE OWNER AIMING TO TAKE CLUB A FURTHER STEP FORWARD

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

SIMON Hallett is now hopeful a deal can be struck to bring new investors into Plymouth Argyle within the next couple of months.

The process has taken longer than the Pilgrims’ majority owner and chairman had hoped, who first spelled out at the start of last season he was looking for extra financial support for the Championship club. However, Hallett has revealed that ‘talks have accelerated in the last couple of weeks’ and he is feeling more confident about a successful outcome.

The additional funding from a new investor would be used for infrastructure projects at Home Park, such as potentially ‘filling in the corners’ at either end of the Mayflower Grandstand, and new head coach Wayne Rooney’s first team squad.

On the search for a new investor, Hallett told Herald Sport: “We are making very good progress now. We have got a pipeline with two or three in now, at least one of which is extremely promising.

“We can’t say anything while negotiations are going on but talks have accelerated in the last couple of weeks and I’m very pleased about it. I’m now hopeful we can get something done in the next couple of months.

“These things take time. There is our lawyers, there is their lawyers, there is us, there is them. Especially over the summer, people are going on vacation, there are time differences.

“It always takes longer than you think, even if the talks are completely smooth. It will take weeks; I just hope it doesn’t end up taking many months.”