Alex Mitchell heads for Devon

Alex Mitchell has joined Plymouth Argyle on a season-long loan.    Richard Cawley comments: ‘Always expected the centre-back, 23, to make a temporary move away from Charlton.’   Some fans have responded with sad emojis to the news.

Mitchell has always shown a strong desire to play first-team football, even going back to when he was on Millwall’s books.

Nathan Jones: “He’s at an age where he needs game time and given the form of others and our new signings the loan move to a good club like Plymouth was a good opportunity and we weren’t going to stand in his way."

Cawley adds: ‘Remains to be seen what happens with Zach Mitchell. It seems he has impressed Nathan Jones but he also has a strong desire for regular game time.’

Don't panic: Warnock is heading to Plymouth

The Sunday Mirror carried a story yesterday that departed Leeds manager Neil Warnock might be heading to either Charlton or Plymouth as director of football. The Plymouth part of the story does have some legs. Warnock has already been swanning around at Home Park which is conveniently situated for his smallholding in south-east Cornwall where he grows passionate broccoli. Don't be surprised if the gobby former Palace manager gets some fancy title with the Pilgrims before too long: Warnock

As for the Charlton part of the story, one can imagine a creative journalist thinking along the following lines: not that many people are in the Green Army, we need another angle. Where were Leeds playing yesterday? Oh yes, Charlton. Chris Powell's still on a learning curve. The Mysterons can't get rid of him that easily, but they could bring in somebody to help him.

Next week: the two Isles of Scilly teams compete to bring in Warnock.

Seip is Argyle's secret weapon

Marcel Seip was confined to bench warming duties during his spell at Charlton. He is seen as having played a key role in Argyle's shock 3-1 victory at Franchise FC on Tuesday and is now raring to go against the Addicks tomorrow: Seip

Cheerful Plymouth boss Peter Reid admits that Charlton are a good side and that it will be a tough match tomorrow with the crowd behind new manager Chris Powell. His game plan is to get the ball and hang on to it, denying Charlton possession. In other words, don't be surprised if there are ten men behind the ball. We need an early goal to prevent a 0-0.

Argyle are still in a serious financial crisis and their fire sale of players is continuing (see the football economy page).

It's going to be a big day for the Addickted tomorrow. My wife, who let her season ticket lapse, has bought a ticket. Do remember, however, that it's still the same bunch of relatively mediocre players, minus Lee Martin, who for all his shortcomings at least brought some pace.

I don't set much store by form tables (final positions are not decided by the last six matches) but it is worth noting that we were third from bottom at the weekend.

Keep your nerve, urges Reid

Plymouth boss Peter Reid has urged his players to keep their nerve in the face of a 'difficult' game against Charlton tomorrow, following the 'terrific' result by the Addicks at MK Dons: Reid

The Pilgrims have three players on international duty, one at Windsor Park tonight in the clash between Northern Ireland and Italy. At one time it was thought this might lead to the match being called off. A request was made to the Football League, but the cash flow position is so desperate at Home Park that the directors insisted that the match should go ahead.

Plymouth's captain, Carl Fletcher, has been training on his own because of jury service. He tried to be excused, but the judge told him he was not famous enough and the charm merchant stormed out of court.

Reid has also urged his players not to be distracted by the financial crisis at the club. The Pilgrims were served with yet another winding up order by Revenue and Customs on Wednesday, but it was withdrawn, presumably because the bill was settled.

Top scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips is expected to start after he was confined to the bench because of an injury. Midfielder Kari Arnason is also back after an injury, but local opinion is that he is useless. Reid may risk 18-year old Dean Parrett, on loan from Spurs, in the hope of injecting some creativity into the midfield (sound familiar?)

Keeper David Button, on loan from Spurs, has been out injured since 11th September. His replacement Roman Larrieu managed to keep a clean sheet for the first time in six games on Wednesday against Cheltenham in the paint drying trophy.

I have pre-recorded a match preview for Radio Scilly and hopefully this will go out in the sports show slot tonight (the sports show has been called off because of a broken helicopter). I am forecasting a 1-1 draw.

Scilly times

Action from the Garrison Field

We haven't so far discussed Charlton on the Radio Scilly sports show, but this Friday evening might be an exception. All sorts of teams are supported on the Isles of Scilly, including Manchester City and Queen's Park Rangers.

In part this reflects where people lived before they came to the islands. However, the team of choice on the islands for native Scillonians is Plymouth Argyle. This is reinforced by their practice and sending players and coaching staff to the islands for training sessions. This is much appreciated given their remoteness.

Of course, there is one distraction as the islands' two team football league is about to get under way again. The squads for the Garrison Gunners and the Woolpack Wanderers have been chosen. This is done on the basis of the old playground practice of each captain choosing a player in turn.

However, before the league gets under way there will probably be some pre-season friendlies and I think there is also an equivalent of the charity shield.

Plymouth game may be called off

If you are planning a weekend in Plymouth for the October 9th game, think again as it seems likely to be called off. Three Plymouth players have been called up for international duty: Pilgrims