Hayes On Why

NEW Argyle signing Paul Hayes is itching to begin his latest Pilgrimage.

The prolific and much-travelled striker joined Argyle on a one-month’s loan from Brentford on Friday, just over 24 hours before the Devon Expressway Derby at Exeter.

With Portsmouth at Home Park a week later for another League 2 match and a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy trip to Swindon in midweek, there is no chance of the grass growing under the Londoner’s  studded feet.

“It’s a fantastic week for the club and myself,” said Paul, who turned 30 last month. “To jump in a derby game is massive for everyone involved with the club and I can’t wait.

“I’m just looking forward to getting my head down, working hard for the team, and doing well for myself and the club.”

Paul has scored well over 100 goals for eight different clubs and, with Argyle having failed to notch for approaching five hours, it does not need to be spelt out why manager John Sheridan has made his move.



“Obviously, goals win you games,” said Paul, who started his career at Norwich and has also played for Scunthorpe, Barnsley, Huddersfield, Preston, Charlton, Wycombe and Crawley.

“I’ve read somewhere that we haven’t scored for the last three games and that is probably disappointing for everyone involved in the team.

“It’s just one of those situations when a team goes on a barren run of not scoring goals.

“To get out of the league you have got to score goals and I am sure that, if we can go on a run of scoring goals and winning games, the confidence comes back and you can be free-flowing and start to enjoy yourself again.”

The terms of Paul’s loan means he will be eligible to play in league matches at Exeter, Hartlepool and Mansfield, and the home games against Portsmouth, Newport and Northampton, as well as Tuesday’s JPT tie.

He said: “When you come to a side on loan, you want to play games and, if there are only four games, it’s disappointing.

“But to have seven games in one month is fantastic. I really can’t wait to get out there and play.”