Throughout their history, the catchment area and potential of Plymouth Argyle has helped to attract a vast array of different managers to Home Park.
These have ranged from the maverick (Malcolm Allison & Ian Holloway), the future international manager (Billy Bingham & Tony Waiters), the serial promotion winner (Dave Smith, Neil Warnock & Paul Sturrock), the former international star (Peter Shilton & Peter Reid) and the ex-player (Ellis Stuttard, Bobby Saxton, Johnny Hore, David Kemp, Kevin Hodges, Paul Mariner and, until recently, Carl Fletcher).
All of the previously aforementioned individuals experienced varying degrees of success during the respective reigns in the Home Park hot seat.
The more successful ones have contributed to the eight promotions, which includes four divisional titles, the Pilgrims have won and the three cup semi-finals that they have also reached (two in the League Cup in 1965 & 1974 and one in the FA Cup in 1984) in the club’s 126-year history.
However, the one thing that has eluded Argyle throughout their existence has been top-flight football.
The city of Plymouth has held the title of the largest city in Europe never to have hosted top-flight football since 2008, when Hull City relinquished the title by beating Bristol City in the Championship Play-Off final to win promotion to the Premiership under Phil Brown, who is believed to be on the shortlist to succeed Fletcher.
Whilst the Premiership may seem like a very distant dream to the Pilgrims at the moment, let’s not forget that Swansea City were in not too different situation to Argyle not that long ago.
In 2003, the Swans secured their Football League status by beating Hull City 4-2 on the final day of the 2002-03 campaign, but fast forward eight years to 2011 and the Swans were winning promotion to the Premiership.
Meanwhile, back to Argyle’s current position and if James Brent and the current board can get the appointment of Carl Fletcher’s successor right, then the Pilgrims could rise again through the leagues in the near future.
