The role Gareth Bale will play in Plymouth Argyle takeover, it’s worked for Birmingham City with Tom Brady

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EFL expert Adrian Clarke has explained the role Gareth Bale will play as part of a US investment group who are linked with buying Plymouth Argyle.

Fortunes are finally starting to turn for Plymouth Argyle following their relegation back to League One last season.

Former head coach Miron Muslic was accused of “jumping at the first opportunity” by Plymouth fans after he departed for German outfit FC Schalke 04, in a move which saw the Argyle chairman slam Muslic’s conduct.

In the wake of Muslic’s departure, former Watford boss Tom Cleverley was chosen as Muslic’s replacement, and he will spearhead the club’s Championship promotion charge in the 2025/26 League One season.

Cleverley’s appointment is an impressive one for the Green Army, and the latest twist at boardroom level regarding former Real Madrid Galactico, Gareth Bale, is even more exciting.

• READ MORE: Plymouth fans will be fuming with Miron Muslic’s transfer target at Schalke, he was ‘perfect’ for Argyle

Expert explains role Gareth Bale could play at Plymouth Argyle

As Telegraph Sport revealed on Monday, third tier Plymouth are in talks with a US private equity group over a takeover, of which Real Madrid legend Bale is part of the plan to complete the purchase.

Amid the Champions League winner’s shock move for Plymouth, pundit Adrian Clarke explained on TalkSport the role that Bale could play at Argyle, and whether it would follow the pattern of Luka Modric’s involvement at Swansea City and Tom Brady’s presence at Birmingham City.

Clarke explained: “It’s an interesting one, isn’t it, it’s definitely on trend.

“I guess for some of these companies that are looking to take over clubs, it’s a bit dull on it’s own isn’t it, a ‘US private equity group’, but you suddenly bring Gareth Bale’s name into it, it suddenly jazzes it up doesn’t it, makes it better for the marketing, it makes it more exciting.

“What we’ve actually seen at other clubs like Birmingham with Tom Brady and at Swansea with Modric is a little bit of minor involvement a little bit of sporting knowledge being brought in.

“And of course, you know Tom Brady has spoken to a number of the players, you know he’s had a little bit of input on their nutrition and stuff like that.

“I did read that Luka Modric had phoned up Harry Darling at Swansea to try and persuade him to stay now, how much Luka Modric knows about Harry Darling, I’m not quite sure, but that’s quite a powerful weapon, isn’t it, to have up your sleeve.”

Modric’s best efforts would not keep Darling at Swansea after he completed a move to Norwich City, but the pull from a Real Madrid legend would’ve been difficult for Darling to dismiss.

Clarke continued: “So I get it, I do, I just think the Gareth Bale is the surprise, and I don’t mean this horribly, but during the back end of his playing career at Real Madrid, he wasn’t maybe the most into it.

“He likes his golf more than his football, is he that passionate about football?”

Despite Bale’s actual involvement at Plymouth being yet unclear, if it is anything akin to Brady’s involvement at the Blues, then Argyle fans will be desperate for the takeover to materialise.

• READ MORE: Three Ryan Hardie replacements for Plymouth amid Wrexham transfer include perfect loan move and League One ace

Tom Brady’s impact since coming on board at Birmingham City

In 2023, eyebrows were raised around the footballing world when NFL legend Tom Brady was welcomed through the doors at St Andrews by owner Tom Wagner.

Brady reportedly owns a 3.3 percent stake in Birmingham, who were relegated down to League One in the first full season following Brady’s investment.

Brady made a promise to Birmingham fans, which has come to fruition this season with their record-breaking 111 points tally in League One that has catapulted the club back to the Championship.

The Blues co-owner is now looking ahead to life back in the Championship, and his presence has been instrumental in raising the profile of Birmingham during his association with the club.

After David Beckham and Gary Neville led a takeover of Salford City, Manchester United legend Beckham praised Brady’s ‘incredible’ Birmingham success, lauding the American football icon for his investment and work to help bring the Blues back to prominence.

Brady has proven at Birmingham that sporting celebrity involvement at EFL clubs can play a pivotal role in helping the club prosper again, and the Argyle faithful will be hoping Bale can replicate the success of Brady at Home Park if the takeover materialises.