The 2011–12 season was Plymouth Argyle's 100th as a professional football club, their 87th as a member of the Football League and their sixth in Football League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. The season marked Argyle's 125th anniversary since founding in 1886.
Background
The 2010–11 season was the club's 39th in the third tier of the English football league system, having been relegated from the Football League Championship the previous season. It was their first campaign at that level for six years and Peter Reid's first season in charge since becoming the club's manager. Argyle began the season by picking up four points from their opening two matches, but they struggled for consistency over the next two months, winning four of their next 15 league matches. The club was firmly established in mid-table when they received a winding-up petition from HM Revenue & Customs over unpaid taxes in November, the third in the space of a year. A number of players were sold in January to raise funds, including top goalscorer Bradley Wright-Phillips, midfielder Craig Noone and defender Réda Johnson for six-figure fees. As a result, the team's form dipped and they lost nine of their next ten matches. The club was docked ten points by the Football League in February for issuing a notice of intention to appoint an administrator, which left Argyle bottom of the table.
Two weeks later, the club's directors put the club into administration. The team won six of their next 11 matches, but relegation to League Two was confirmed at the start of May in their penultimate match of the season. Argyle finished 23rd in the league table, having taken 42 points from 46 matches. They finished above Swindon Town, but were six points below Walsall, who stayed up on the last day of the season. Having been in negotiations over a takeover with interested parties, nine first team players out of contract at the end of June were released by the club. They included defenders Marcel Seip and Krisztián Timár, Scottish players Chris Clark, Steve MacLean and Jim Paterson, midfielders Anton Peterlin and Luke Summerfield, forward Rory Fallon and Karl Duguid. The only player to be offered a new contract was Frenchman Stéphane Zubar, while captain Carl Fletcher agreed to stay by taking up the option of a further 12 months on his deal. First year professional Ryan Leonard was also released, and among the apprentices that were allowed to leave was Matt Rickard, who made one appearance for the first team in 2010–11. In June, Yannick Bolasie was transferred to Bristol City, and Kári Árnason was released after refusing to sign a wage deferral.
Review
Pre-season
The squad returned for pre-season training on 4 July. They were joined by defenders Durrell Berry and Robbie Williams, who agreed to join the club having been released by Aston Villa and Rochdale respectively at the end of last season, and two trialists; former Oldham Athletic forward Andy Crompton and Norwich City player Luke Daley. Later that day, defender Bondz N'Gala completed a transfer to Yeovil Town. Liam Dickinson, a former Barnsley striker, joined the squad on 5 July after agreeing to join the club on a free transfer. On 10 July, forward Joe Mason joined Cardiff City for an undisclosed fee. Two more trialists took part in training the next day; goalkeeper Jake Cole and French defender Ladjie Soukouna, while youngsters Jamie Richards and Luke Young signed their first professional contracts. Reid chose against pursuing his interest in Crompton. Argyle began their schedule of nine pre-season friendlies by defeating South West Peninsula League side Torpoint Athletic by two goals to one on 12 July. Winger Jed Harper-Penman scored both goals for a young Argyle team.
The contract of Dickinson was cancelled the next day for personal reasons. Argyle faced Championship club Bristol City at Home Park on 15 July. Included in the team were three more trialists; former Millwall player Kiernan Hughes-Mason, Rochdale forward Anthony Elding and Blackburn Rovers striker Tom Hitchcock. The visitors won 3–2, with Hughes-Mason and Hitchcock scoring for Argyle. A team made up solely of the club's youth system played Western League side Barnstaple Town the next day. A brace from Matt Lecointe and further goals from Tyler Harvey and Ben Clarvis earned a 4–4 draw for the away side. Northern Irish forward Rory Patterson left the club later in the day to join Linfield on loan until the end of the season. Four new trialists joined the squad on 18 July; Argentine winger Andrés Gurrieri, former Everton and Birmingham City youngsters Gerard Kinsella and Shane Williams, and former Preston North End player Simon Whaley, while Hughes-Mason was allowed to leave. Stéphane Zubar returned to the club on 19 July after accepting the offer of a new contract.
Terms were agreed with trialists Daley and Soukouna, and an agreement was reached with Blackburn Rovers to sign Hitchcock on loan for three months. Midfielder Damien Johnson completed a return to Huddersfield Town on a season-long loan, while former Barnet player Cole agreed to sign. Romain Larrieu's testimonial match took place on 20 July 2011 against Premier League club Queens Park Rangers. Argyle lost 1–0 in an even contest at Home Park. Two days later, a young team defeated local South West Peninsula League side Elburton Villa 3–1 at Haye Road, with LeCointe, Isaac Vassell and Harvey scoring for Argyle. Three trialists joined the squad on 25 July: French striker Joseph Mendes, and midfielders Joe Holt and Conor Hourihane, while Elding, Whaley and Shane Williams departed. A hat-trick from LeCointe earned a youthful Argyle side a 3–3 draw at Western League club Bridport on 26 July.
The next day, Conference South side Truro City were defeated 2–1 at Home Park, with Fletcher and Hourihane scoring the goals for the hosts. Goals from Mendes and youth team player Colin Watson helped Argyle defeat Tavistock of the South West Peninsula League by three goals to one at Langsford Park on 29 July; the third was an own goal. Hourihane joined the club permanently the next day, signing from Ipswich Town on a free transfer. Holt, Mendes and Nikolaj Misiuk, a Lithuanian striker who had played against Tavistock, were informed that they would not be offered contracts. Kinsella's trial was ended due to a knee injury that required surgery. Argyle defeated South West Peninsula League side Saltash United 1–0 in their final pre-season friendly at Kimberly Stadium on 1 August. The only goal of the game was scored by Hitchcock. Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson joined the club on loan for three months. Northern Ireland international Warren Feeney joined the club on a free transfer on 4 August after being released by Oldham Athletic.
August Argyle began the season with a 1–1 draw at Shrewsbury Town on 6 August. A late goal from Carl Fletcher cancelled out James Collins' opener for the home side. Three days later, the club took on Millwall in the first round of the League Cup at Home Park. Dany N'Guessan scored the only goal of the game to eliminate Argyle from the competition. Hull City midfielder Will Atkinson joined the club on loan for the rest of the season. He scored the opening goal in a 4–1 defeat against Rotherham United on 13 August. Gareth Evans and Adam Le Fondre both scored twice for Rotherham. A third consecutive defeat followed as Argyle lost 2–0 at home to AFC Wimbledon. Two second half goals from Jack Midson was the difference between the teams. Gillingham scored three late goals at Priestfield Stadium on 20 August after Gibson was sent off for two bookable offences. Danny Kedwell converted two penalties and Luke Rooney added the other.
Zubar's contract was cancelled on 25 August after he asked to leave the club for personal reasons. Two days later, Argyle replaced Crewe Alexandra at the bottom of the league table after a 1–0 home defeat. Shaun Miller scored the winning goal for Crewe just before half time. Argyle were eliminated from the Football League Trophy in the first round by Exeter City after losing a penalty shoot-out. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with a goal from Daley cancelling out James Dunne's effort for Exeter, before the home side won 3–0 in the shoot-out. Defender Simon King and midfielder Jamie Griffiths joined the club on loan for one month from Gillingham and Ipswich Town respectively. Richards was loaned out to Barnstaple Town for a month.
September
Having threatened to strike in protest about money owed to staff days beforehand, Argyle lost 2–1 at Burton Albion on 3 September. Justin Richards and Calvin Zola gave Burton a two-goal lead before Atkinson's injury-time consolation. A brace from Gary Roberts consigned Argyle to a sixth consecutive defeat as Port Vale won 2–0 at Home Park. Both sides finished the match with ten men after Marc Richards and Soukouna were sent off. The club's losing streak was extended at Barnet after a 2–0 defeat at Underhill Stadium on 13 September. Izale McLeod and Daniel Leach scored either side of half time for Barnet. The club lost again four days later at Southend United. Fletcher was sent off in the 2–0 defeat and two former players scored Southend's goals – Liam Dickinson and Peter Gilbert. The next day, manager Peter Reid was relieved of his duties after 15 months in charge. The next day, Carl Fletcher was appointed as caretaker manager with Romain Larrieu as his assistant.
The loan deals of Simon King and Jamie Richards were extended until 7 November and 1 December respectively. A first victory of the campaign was secured on 24 September against Macclesfield Town. Warren Feeney and Robbie Williams scored either side of half time to give Argyle a 2–0 win at Home Park.
October October began with a 2–0 defeat at Crawley Town. Striker Matt Tubbs scored both goals for the home side. Jamie Griffiths' loan from Ipswich Town was extended for a further month. The team threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2–2 with ten-man Accrington Stanley on 8 October. Simon Walton and Ladjie Soukouna scored before half-time after Sean Hessey was sent-off. Despite that, Accrington came back to earn a point thanks to goals from Kevin Long and Pádraig Amond. Argyle claimed their first away win of the season a week later at Dagenham & Redbridge. Matt Lecointe and Conor Hourihane gave the club a two-goal lead before Scott Doe and Jon Nurse scored for Dagenham. Simon Walton converted a stoppage time penalty to give Argyle a 3–2 victory. A late goal from Raffaele De Vita gave Swindon Town a 1–0 win at Home Park on 22 October. A 5–1 defeat at Oxford United three days later was their eleventh of the season. Robert Hall and James Constable both scored twice, with Peter Leven scoring Oxford's third. Argyle were briefly level in the second half after Simon Walton converted a penalty. Jamie Griffiths was sent off as Argyle lost 2–1 at Cheltenham Town on 29 October. An effort on goal by Jared Sims was turned in by Cheltenham defender Steve Elliott and Argyle retained the lead for an hour before Darryl Duffy scored from the penalty spot. Griffiths was sent off two minutes later and then Duffy scored the winner in stoppage time.
November