Plymouth are emerging as the latest club to take their blueprint from Town and David Sheepshanks' five-year plan. The south-west club are developing a new stadium and are seeking to become the 'big club' of Devon and Cornwall.

Their chief executive Captain David Tall RN OBE (lawks!) said: "We regard Ipswich Town as a model club and we have developed a five-year strategic plan, following something Ipswich did. They are an exemplary club and we hold David Sheepshanks and Ipswich Town in very high regard. In many ways we are very similar clubs. We have a similar support base and a remoteness in location."

David Sheepshanks is flattered at his approach being adopted by other clubs and sees Plymouth as a club which could grow: "Plymouth is a very interesting case. They really are a sleeping giant. They have a huge catchment area, even bigger than ours. They have the whole of Devon and Cornwall and even further afield if people have a mind to travel, which they will if the club is successful. If they adopt the same sort of long-term approach of totally restructuring the club as we did from 1995 they do have a chance."

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