Hobbs seems likely to bring a permanent keeper to Parkway

PLYMOUTH Parkway manager Lee Hobbs says he is likely to sign a permanent goalkeeper this summer after feeling both the benefits and dangers of bringing in loanees.

- STUART JAMES

After seeing Kyle Moore depart Bolitho Park in October, Hobbs swooped for Plymouth Argyle glovesman Adam Parkes, who was third-choice glovesman at Home Park, but when the Pilgrims lost their regular number one, Mike Cooper, to injury for the remainder of the season, Parkes was recalled by the Pilgrims at the start of February.

Hobbs then took Exeter City’s highly-rated youngster Harry Lee on loan and he performed superbly between the sticks for the Yellows. But when the Grecians lost one of their two goalkeepers, Gary Woodes, to injury, they too invoked a recall clause, leaving Hobbs without a recognised shot-stopper.

There was no doubting the quality of both Parkes, who has since been rleased by Argyle, and Lee, but their departures left Hobbs with a headache for the run-in as he had no recognised number one. Jack Arthur, Sam Borthwick, Jordan Duffey and Shaun Semmens were all dual-registered, though, and were able to see out Parkway’s season, but Hobbs knows it was a situation far from ideal.

Hobbs has made no secret of the fact he would love to take Lee back for the whole of the 2023/24 season at Bolitho Park, but it is not something he will consider - if the Grecians insist on a recall clause.