Ronan Grateful For Home Comforts

ARGYLE’S attempts to remain in League 2 have been boosted by the signing of a striker who won the division last season by the manager who led his team to the title 12 months previously.

Ronan Murray, 21, was borrowed from Ipswich by Swindon last season, when the Robins  lifted the League 2 title and reached Wembley.

Now he has been loaned out to Argyle, whose manager John Sheridan denied Swindon a notable double when Chesterfield beat Paolo Di Canio’s side 2-0 in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final.

“Trying to win games, and being the team to beat, every week was difficult,” said Ronan, who will remain at Home Park until the end of the season, “but it was definitely an experience.

“The manager down there is passionate about the game and I learnt a lot.”

As is the case with such moves, things have been a bit of a whirlwind for the Irish Under-21 international, but there has been one familiar international and former domestic team-mate to help him settle in.

“I got the word yesterday that Plymouth were interested and I grabbed it with two hands,” he said, before joining Friday’s training session.

“It once was a massive club and I assume it still is, just in the wrong league.

“I am looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“I know Conor [Hourihane] and that’ll help me settle in nice and easy. He was at Ipswich prior to Plymouth for a season or two, so I got to know him there and obviously I knew him from [the Irish] Under-16s-21s.

“It’s nice to know someone down here. It’s time to settle in, time to get to know the lads and how they play – that’s important – and get us out of the relegation zone.”

If Argyle are to do that, they will look to Ronan, who will wear the number 28 shirt while at Home Park, to score or lay on some goals. He is up for that.

He said: “I’m just a little busy striker, nipping about the place and hopefully nicking a goal or two.

“I’m looking forward to it. I reckon there’s a good few players that can feed me the ball in the right positions, and I’ll do the rest.”

Good luck, Ronan.