Plymouth Argyle Says Goodbye to manager John Sheridan

Plymouth Argyle have parted company with manager John Sheridan. The departure was by mutual consent. It is understood that Sheridan wanted to return to the north of England.

He took over the position of manager of Pilgrims back in January 2013 with Argyle second from bottom. They finished the season in 21st place, one point above safety. The following season, Argyle fared better, finishing in 10 and 12 points off a play-off place. This season has been one of the better seasons for Argyle for many a season (2007/08 season) with the Pilgrims finishing in 7th and earning themselves a shot at promotion via the play-offs. But it wasn’t to be, with Argyle losing 5-3 on aggregate to Wycombe Wanderers.

Owner James Brent paid tribute to John Sheridan:-

John has made a significant contribution to the Pilgrims’ cause, for which we will always be very grateful. Under his management, Argyle were brought back from the brink of relegation out of the Football League and were subsequently transformed into League 2 promotion contenders.

Reaching the play-offs last season, two years after surviving the drop into non-league on the final day of the 2012-13 campaign, is an achievement of which John, his management team, and the players should rightly be proud.

While we would have liked John to continue to plot Argyle’s course back up the Football League, we understand his reasons for wanting to leave and have agreed a mutual termination of his contract.

John Sheridan talk of his departure by saying:-

It has been a pleasure and a privilege to have been Plymouth Argyle’s manager for the last two and half years, and I would like to thank the Board and the Green Army for supporting me wholeheartedly during my time at Home Park.

I have thought long and hard about the decision I have reached and I hope people understand the reasons behind it.

I believe that I leave the club in a far stronger position to reclaim its place at a higher level of the Football League than it was when I first arrived and I wish it nothing but continued success for the future.

His record against Paul Tisdale and Exeter City was: Played 5, Won 3, Drew 0, Lost 2, For 9, Against 6.

Some of the fore-runners to take over the vacancy are: Ian Holloway, Graham Coughlan, Paul Wotton, Neil Warnock, Gary Johnson and Nigel Clough.