With Plymouth Argyle currently searching for a successor to former manager Derek Adams, we will now take a closer look at five names who have been linked to the post.
Ian Holloway (Unattached)
- If time is a great healer, then could know be the right time for Ian Holloway to return to Plymouth Argyle? Since leaving Home Park in the 2007-08 season for Leicester City, Holloway has led Blackpool and Crystal Palace to the Premier League and has also had a spell in charge of Millwall. He has since expressed his regret at leaving the Pilgrims in the way in which he did and has also admitted he is keen for a return to full-time management.
Graham Coughlan (Bristol Rovers)
- Current Bristol Rovers manager Graham Coughlan, who played a key role in helping Argyle win the Division Three and Division Two titles in the 2001-02 and 2003-04 seasons, has made a promising start to his managerial with the Pirates by steering them away from the League One relegation zone. Coughlan has emerged as the bookies' favourite to succeed Adams, but has insisted he is focused on the task in arm at the Memorial Stadium.
Ryan Lowe (Bury)
- It is believed that Bury manager Ryan Lowe has already held talks with the Pilgrims board after a successful season which saw him lead the Shakers to automatic promotion from League Two - the division that Argyle have recently been relegated into. Last season, Bury were amongst the highest scorers in the Football League with 82 goals and the style of play implemented by Lowe drew admiration from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp following a pre-season friendly with the Reds.
Michael Flynn (Newport County)
- Newport County manager Flynn - who hails from Pillgwenlly in Gwent, the same town as former Argyle manager Tony Pulis - is another name who could be of interest the Pilgrims. Since keeping the Exiles in the Football League in the 2016-17 season, he has enjoyed a number of fine FA Cup runs and is currently involved in a play-off duel with Mansfield Town. Whether the potential of a bigger club is something that would interest Flynn at this stage of his career.
Keith Hill (Unattached)
- Hill spent four years at Home Park as a player between 1992 and 1996 after joining the Pilgrims along with midfielder Craig Skinner from Blackburn Rovers, in a deal that saw Nicky Marker join Rovers. As a manager, he has made his name in two spells with Rochdale (2006-2011 & 2013-2019) where he won two promotions from League Two - in 2009-10 and 2013-14 - and assembled several sides which were pleasing on the eye. He also oversaw a number of big money sales whilst in charge of Dale, including Glenn Murray, Adam Le Fondre, Craig Dawson and Scott Hogan and he also had a brief spell in charge of Barnsley in the 2011-12 season.
