Steven Schumacher: Plymouth Argyle manager excited by new five-year plan

Steven Schumacher led Plymouth Argyle to the League One title last season

Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher says he is excited at chairman Simon Hallett's new five-year plan for the Home Park club.

Last week Hallett outlined his vision for the Pilgrims to be a top 10 Championship side with Premier League ambitions by 2028.

Hallett is continuing to invest in infrastructure, with Argyle putting in £11m towards a new academy.

It is hoped the £21m complex at the Brickfields will be ready next summer.

"Whenever I speak to him he gives you that confidence and that belief in yourself to take risks, that's the way I've been," Schumacher said.

"I've been really positive in every game that we've gone for, I've made some mistakes over the last two years and you never feel as though you've got anyone over your shoulder having a go at you or criticising you for it.

"He understands a longer term vision of things, Simon doesn't tend to base his decisions on the short term, which is how I like to work, so it's great and the club is lucky to have him.

"He's a huge fan, he's put in a huge amount of money over the last few years, and as he's said, it's going to take another huge amount of money for us to get to the level that he's put out this week."

The Brickfields development will be home to Argyle's youth teams and the women's side - which will come fully under the club's control in the summer.

It means that finances that could be set aside for the first team are being used elsewhere - but it is something Schumacher is happy to work with in the short-term, knowing the long-term gains that could be made.

"It's about having a longer term vision and a longer term plan," Schumacher added.

"I'm desperate to have a top 10 budget in the Championship and have a go and try and get to the Premier League this season, but I understand where we've come from, that's just not possible.

"I understand it because that message is getting relayed all the time, so I can't get frustrated where we're at, we've got to compete and do as best as we can and keep trying to get the team to perform to the levels that we can can under the restraints that we've got.

"The Brickfields development is huge for the club in the long term, it's going to help us produce more players that are going to play in our first team.

"I think two of our best players in the first team have come through the academy, despite not having any facility.

"My lad is in the academy and trains at three different venues in one week, so that needs to change for us to have a chance to produce better players into the first team in the longer term and in the future."