Laughter with Luggy

Ian Holloway may have left Plymouth Argyle in somewhat acrimonious circumstances last week, but he hasn’t stolen the club’s sense of humour.

Chairman Paul Stapleton introduced returning hero Paul ‘Luggy’ Sturrock – replacing Holloway as manager just under four years after leaving the Pilgrims for then-Premiership side Southampton – at today’s press conference, with a description of how the club’s board selected the new boss:

"When we drew up our list of who we would like as a manager, it said ‘grey haired and overweight’…sorry that’s the chairman’s list."

This last comment was, whichever way you wished to slice it, particularly self-deprecating. While Stapleton’s physical frame bares few similarities with chubby Luggy, a small minority of Argyle fans and Devon pressmen have questioned the motives behind bringing Sturrock back to the club from League One Swindon Town.

It has been well documented that he and Stapleton are close personal friends, and rumours were flying around over the weekend, suggesting the chairman was a loan figure in the boardroom, in his bid to bring the 51-year-old Scot back to Home Park. But Stapleton, the moustachioed accountant who has led the board since 2001, was quick to quell such whispers.

"We needed a captain on the ship, and the fact it was someone we had a lot of respect for, even the other board members who didn’t know him from before were unanimous in their choice.

"He’s got the job on merit, not anything else."

Whatever really happened behind the scenes, the installation of Sturrock in the position vacated by Leicester-bound Holloway – seemingly dazzled by the lure of Foxes owner Milan Mandaric’s millions – has sent shivers down the spines of the Green Army.

Luggy had inherited a club in turmoil in October 2000. Argyle’s record appearance holder Kevin Hodges had managed the worst side in Home Park history, arguably not helped by latterly parlous backing from ex-chairman Dan McCauley, and Plymouth were languishing at the wrong end of the old Division Three.

Stapleton, then on McCauley’s board, brought Sturrock to the club, lobbying for his appointment. The rest is history, with the former St. Johnstone and Dundee United boss revitalising Argyle from top to bottom – storming to the 2001-2 title with a record points total of 102, and leaving Plymouth on top of Division Two after 30 games, which they would eventually go on to win.

Along the way he vastly improved the performances and longevity of Lee Hodges, Mickey Evans, and captain Paul Wotton; brought through youth starlets such as Luke McCormick and Paul Connolly; and secured the signings of several unknowns who would go on to be legends in Jannerland – David Norris, Graham Coughlan, David Friio, and Romain Larrieu among them.

And for all Holloway’s countrywide fame – secured largely through sometimes amusing, but often plain idiotic, public pronouncements – Sturrock’s wit is more subtle and developed.

Asked who would oversee tommorrow’s mouth-watering home clash against second-placed West Bromwich Albion – with coaches Tim Breacker and Des Bulpin, who led Plymouth to a fantastic 1-0 win at Sheffield United on Saturday, likely to be joining Holloway at Leicester – Luggy was leaving it to his goalkeeping coach.

"Well Crudgie [Geoff Crudgington] has got problems!" he smirked, to general hilarity.
"I’m sitting with the chairman, I’ll have nothing to do with this one!"

And the jokes kept coming. Did it help that some players were still at Argyle from Sturrock’s last tenure, one hack asked?

"Hodgie looks much slimmer, so what he’s been doing for the last few years has definitely worked, I’m gonna take some advice from him."

Not to be outdone, Stapleton was happy to admit that the worldwind process of management change had left some creases unironed. How long would Luggy’s contract be?

"We haven’t really decided, we’re gonna have a quiet chat about that this evening I think…see how we get on tommorrow night!"

Sturrock will find with Argyle in rude health, sitting fourth in the Championship and with the feel-good factor coursing through Pilgrim veins. Whether he can repeat the heroics of his previous reign remains to be seen, but, for now, all is well in PL2.

RICH PARTINGTON