"Plymouth is my spiritual home"

Adding to Swindon Town fans' further dismay in an unforgiving season, the club's most prized asset, Manager Paul Sturrock, has bounced back to his former roots at Plymouth Argyle.

Sturrock first managed Plymouth from 2000 to 2004 and has swiftly returned to fill the void left by Ian Holloway, who resigned last week to join rival Leicester.

Since being appointed in Summer 2006, the former QPR boss had led the Pilgrims up the League Championship table. Last week, Plymouth fans felt betrayed by his shock decision to walk out of their club having been refused talks with Leicester.

Speculation was rife over the weekend as to whether or not Plymouth had, or were going to, approach Swindon. Even Paul Sturrock dismissed the many rumours circulating online and in the newspapers.

But it was evident that his previous successful spell at Plymouth was still raw in the minds of the Argyle Board and fans, painfully but respectably recognised simultaneously by Swindon fans.

After his first stint at Plymouth, Sturrock coached at Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon. He played his entire career at Dundee United as a striker and also played for Scotland. His son, Blair Sturrock, still plays for Swindon.

It must be said, that Swindon fans have endured so much these past recent months. The reaction by fans to Sturrock's departure has not been of anger, but of reasonable presumption.

Sadly and inevitably, it was coming. It was just a question of when. Denial was a way of acclimatising to the idea of losing a great manager that helped us win 50% of our games under him, losing just 11 of 52, and return to League One.

It certainly wouldn't take much to aggravate the Swindon fans at the moment, given the financial fiasco that has blighted this season. It is going to be a rocky and frustrating ride, now that we're looking for our sixth manager in two years.

I am sure the fans share my pride in the way Sturrock stepped down with such grace and how they have all fought a united front for the club's survival.

Sturrock's farewell message to Swindon read:

"In footballing terms and in my heart, Plymouth is my spiritual home and I never thought the opportunity would arise again. It is an opportunity that I couldn't turn down.

"My children will be able to fit into schools very quickly down there and my wife will be able to adapt to life there very quickly as we have a lot of friends down there still.

"It was a wrench because I have brought a lot of players to this football club and I have enjoyed my time at The County Ground.

"I hope people will appreciate that myself and the coaching staff have left Swindon in a better state than when we arrived and that is the aim of any manager.

"The last three months have probably been the most difficult of my football career but the lure of returning to Plymouth Argyle was just too strong to turn down.

"Hopefully there will be a change in ownership that enables thefootball club to bring the success that everyone who works for thisclub merits".

Sturrock left on good terms and for him to wish the club better luck struck the right chord for fans, I feel. He has been given a golden opportunity to return to a club he knows inside out, without the burden of a takeover crisis obstructing his managerial decisions. Who can criticise him?

Swindon Town fans will want to forget the year 2007, a year that sawtheir club's future clinging to a fine thread. A year ofstalled takeover plans, protests and the departure of Paul Sturrock. Hopefully in 2008 the club will be in a healthier state, led by amanager with similar dedication.

Comments by Argyle fans online have been fully sympathetic and welcoming to Swindon's cause. That has provided an amicable and comforting remedy to the misfortunes that have shaken the club. We thank you. And wish Sturrock the very best with his return to Home Park.

He's our hero of the South West too!

NEIL ROBINSON