Plymouth Argyle: Carl Fletcher sacked by League Two strugglers

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Plymouth Argyle have sacked manager Carl Fletcher after 16 months in charge of the struggling League Two side.

Argyle stand just two points clear of the relegation zone after losing 2-1 at John Ward's Bristol Rovers.

Ward was set to become Argyle director of football just three weeks ago, until being offered the job as Rovers boss.

Former Argyle and Wales midfielder Fletcher, 32, took over as boss, initially as caretaker, after Peter Reid's sacking in September 2011.

In his post-match interview with BBC Radio Devon, he revealed: "[Owner] James Brent has just done it, that's my last game today so that's me got the sack. We'll have to wait and see what the future brings.

"Since I've been down here we've been through a lot, that's football really. I might be a young manager but I know if you don't win games you don't keep your job.

"It's been a tough four years. It's obviously disappointing to end this way but that's life and that's football. It'll be nice to spend some time with the kids and the family and get away from it all.

"The way your life gets overtaken when you're a manager, it's very hard to deal with, and it's been a really good learning curve for me."

The ex-Bournemouth, West Ham, Watford, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest player retired from playing in the summer when he was handed a new contract as manager.

The club had been actively looking for a director of football to help Fletcher since November.

"The board will now seek promptly to appoint a new manager with significant experience of football management," said an Argyle club statement.external-link

"The team's recent results have not been good enough and, with the club's Football League future paramount, the Argyle board felt that a change was necessary now as we head into an important part of the season."

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  • Comment posted by richard griffiths, at 16:30 1 Jan 2013

    Thankyou Carl for all your efforts, this was always going to be a big ask to breathe life back into the club, given all the financial contraints placed upon it by the administration process.
    An experienced manager would have found it equally as difficult to turn things around. All the fans wanted, was something to shout about after all the grief of recent seasons. Good luck for the future.

  • Comment posted by U15556682, at 16:28 1 Jan 2013

    I feel sorry for Carl Fletcher, concidering most of the time he has been at the club, he has no money to spend on new players, no wages for him self or his squad, so there has been all that pressure as well has poor results. However Football is a results buisness and we have been on a very bad run since October, including that imbarrising FA Cup defeat to Non League Dorchester. He had to go.

  • Comment posted by U15556956, at 20:21 1 Jan 2013

    IMO Carl Fletcher did a fantastic job to keep PAFC in the football league with no management experience, a very low wage cap and some very poor players! I believe this to be more tactical sacking as PAFC can now start to look upwards rather than over their shoulders, and for this they will need an experience management and coaching team. TUFC supporter.

  • Comment posted by U15410283, at 18:06 1 Jan 2013

    I've always thought that, head for head, the travelling Green Army are amongst the best away fans in the country.

    The problem is that these "Ultras" are the only ones making any noise at the home games too, the majority are far too quiet and apathetic.

    The people of Plymouth really need to get behind their club. Given the size of the city, the home attndance figures are embarrassing.

  • Comment posted by U4497522, at 17:38 1 Jan 2013

    Personally I would look at someone like Steve Cotterill who has previous experience of taking Cheltenham from the Southern League to the football league on a shoestring budget but has also managed in difficult circumstances at Portsmouth and Forest. George Burley, Owen Coyle, Gary Megson are other names but I can't see them dropping to the foot of league two.

  • Comment posted by U15410283, at 17:34 1 Jan 2013

    @paul from Barking (5)

    That was down to Peter Ridsdale, who left the club some time ago. So the "money-man" has cleared off, and morals were regained when James Brent took over the club.

  • Comment posted by U14410054, at 17:02 1 Jan 2013

    Fletcher made a valiant effort and to keep Argyle up was a great achievement. But another dogfight at the bottom end of the last league table is not what we need for 2013. Time for a new broom and lets hope its the right one!

  • Comment posted by SpinMargot, at 16:14 1 Jan 2013

    Cheers Carl for all you did during a tough time in the clubs history, but it is time for a change. I think he'll be a premier league assistant manager in the future. His reactive management style is probably better suited to that. Always needed an experienced coach at his side & hopefully the board will go that way now, maybe Paul Simpson, Phil Brown or Megson as a former player managerial link.

  • Comment posted by tezla, at 15:49 1 Jan 2013

    Sorry but he had to go. After last years struggle we couldn't afford to have another season like that but we are. 7 points out of 39 speaks for itself.

    A manager with experience and tactical awareness please

  • Comment posted by U14097593, at 23:05 1 Jan 2013

    @13

    Is it an ADHD thing ?

    Why would a "The Rangers" fan feel the need to offer an opinion on a PA article.

    Desperation ?

  • Comment posted by simon5843, at 22:18 1 Jan 2013

    Carl Fletcher has been a hero for Plymouth. He was the only person to step in and take on a huge responsible where most manager stay away.
    He never had any money to spend on a player and only had what at the club to work with.
    He will come stronger and will take over another job soon, and in time to come he will be a great manager. Thank you for all your time and effort Carl.
    Keep it green

  • Comment posted by bga, at 20:30 1 Jan 2013

    @46
    our owner james brent has resisted calls for fletchers sacking for the majority of the season , he has backed him when nobody else would have (imo rightly so) but one win in 16 matches is going to see us in the conference and no man is bigger than any club . i am gutted that it has not worked for carl he is and always will be a ARGYLE legend but a win record of 17 out of 69 left only 1 option

  • Comment posted by TC, at 19:07 1 Jan 2013

    @35 Players have come and will not come to any harm, even if the club folds they have to be paid in full, not like other employees, groundsman, office staff etc.lucky sometimes if they get a quarter of what they are owed.

  • Comment posted by Y0U, at 18:45 1 Jan 2013

    A few years ago Plymouth were a good Championship side, now paying for financial irresponsibility like Portsmouth. It's an unfortunate situation that leaves the manager, players and fans alike paying for it.

  • Comment posted by me, at 18:40 1 Jan 2013

    Typical bbc journalism lost 2-1 at HOME. if not prem league clueless. Argyle your paying for the years to tried to stay in the championship finacially now. where those few years worth years and years of decline?

  • Comment posted by 19jra74, at 18:13 1 Jan 2013

    I think he deserves credit for keeping Argyle up. Took over after having no managerial experience. A very tall order given the financial turmoil Plymouth were/are in. He could have easily said, "no thanks". And what courage to conduct an interview after he had just been sacked. I wish him all the best.

  • Comment posted by JPP, at 18:06 1 Jan 2013

    Given the precious little help he has had from those above him, Carl has done a decent but thankless job. It will be interesting to see who the board manage to persuade to come in, I expect no "big" names but probably an "also-ran".

    Fancy a pressureless run-out Carl? Come to Chagford mate :) JP.

  • Comment posted by Luther, at 17:56 1 Jan 2013

    The biggest city in England never to have had a top flight club.
    Sad, where I think we're going now.

    I think Brent was probably right - but Fletch has had little money, and taken us through an horrendous time, so thanks to him are due, regardless.

  • Comment posted by U14924500, at 17:49 1 Jan 2013

    Lets say the management did well to give him a good run at it, despite calls for his head awhile ago, and regularly repeated. You get out what you put in in the long-run, which applies to the rest of the management. We want a successful club here; its vital and the fans are loyal. People have suggested the Conference wouldn't hurt us, but it would be a terrible shame. No leagues are easy. Fight!

  • Comment posted by Leaguefan, at 17:36 1 Jan 2013

    Always the manager, never the rubbish players or egotistical directors is it!!!

    Soccer was a joke.

    Now it's a farce and not a very good one.

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