Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley has made it clear: keeping the core of his squad together is the top priority for next season. After a rollercoaster campaign that saw the Pilgrims narrowly miss out on a League One play-off spot, Cleverley is determined to build on the momentum they've built.

Argyle's season was a tale of two halves. Following relegation from the Championship, they brought in 16 new players last summer and appointed Cleverley as head coach. The early going was rough—by November, they sat at the bottom of the table. But a stunning turnaround, losing just two of their final 16 games, propelled them to within touching distance of the play-offs after a final-day win at Northampton Town.

"We have to, as a football club, do everything we can to make sure that as many of these players that are here are [still here] next year," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon. "That includes the out of contract ones, that includes the loan players. I'm really happy with the dynamics, the balance of the squad, and we'll be working as hard as we can because consistency is key."

Drawing inspiration from Lincoln City's patient approach—where manager Michael Skubala built a squad over three seasons before amassing 103 points—Cleverley emphasized the value of continuity. "Lincoln didn't get up by changing the whole squad every season. They built to a season that created 103 points. We've certainly laid some good foundations to build on, that's for sure."

One player who could test that resolve is top scorer Lorent Tolaj. The 24-year-old Swiss striker, signed on a four-year deal for a fee believed to be over £1m, has been a revelation with 22 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions. Unsurprisingly, he's drawn interest from several Championship sides.

"Tolly's a very good player, but if there was any progressed interest, I'd expect mine or Derek Adams' [director of football] phone to be going," Cleverley said. "That's not the case so far. Tolly's a very good player, I'm not surprised there's interest, but mine or Derek's phone's not gone yet."

For Argyle fans, the message is one of cautious optimism. The foundations are there, but keeping this squad intact—especially their star striker—will be the key to turning near-misses into success next season. As Cleverley knows, football is a game of three parties: the buying club, the selling club, and the player. For now, the Pilgrims are focused on holding their ground.