Ex-Man Utd star given dreaded vote of confidence after terrible start to season
A number of former Manchester United players have dipped their toes into the managerial game since hanging up their boots - with varying levels of success from the group
Former Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley has been given the vote of confidence at Plymouth Argyle. Cleverley took the reins at League One Plymouth after being sacked by Watford in May, but results have been underwhelming so far.
The Devon club fell just short of a great escape under Milon Muslic last season, finishing three points off safety. Muslic subsequently left for Schalke in the German second tier, and Cleverley is at risk of delivering a second successive relegation.
The Pilgrims lost their first four games of the season before rallying under their new boss, but have picked up just one point from their last four games to sit 22nd of 24 teams in the third tier. However, chief executive Paul Berne insists Cleverley still has the backing of the higher-ups, though - as managers elsewhere have learned in the past - things can always change quickly in football.
"In the case of our Head Coach, let me be more explicit," Berne said after Tuesday's defeat at Mansfield, having argued recovery from "an enormous period of instability" will take time. "We hired Tom as a young, bright, ambitious Head Coach who could come and be a big part of Argyle’s next phase.
"We are a quarter of the way into Tom’s first season with us. Whilst results have been disappointing, nothing has changed in terms of Tom being the right person for this club. We need to bring that stability throughout the club, and this comes from Head Coach downwards."
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest star gives honest Ruben Amorim verdict ahead of crucial Man Utd clashREAD MORE: Ruben Amorim handed major piece of Man Utd advice by Erik ten Hag confidantBerne continued: "We are confident that things will improve. We’ve had a number of circumstances which have hit us in recent weeks, resulting in key players being missing throughout the opening 14 league games. This was emphasised last night, with Tom unable to fill the substitutes bench, and nine players being unavailable for selection, with the vast majority considered first-team starters.
"These are not excuses, but facts, and are clearly not ideal circumstances for any Head Coach to deliver consistent, winning performances. But, we believe Tom has all the tools to still deliver this.
"Throughout all of this, the support of the Green Army has never wavered, with continued sell-out home crowds and incredible away backings. This support is never taken for granted by anyone at the football club, especially Tom, his staff and the players. We are One Argyle, and as history has proven, when we are united we can achieve special things. Let’s stick together. COYG."
Plymouth named just six substitutes for their midweek trip to Mansfield, with goals from Will Evans and Jordan Bowery giving their opponents all three points. Ayman Benarous was the latest player to join the absentee list after picking up a freak injury in training, though team-mate Matthew Sorinola will be available to return for Saturday's FA Cup trip to Wycombe after serving a yellow card suspension.
"It's an action that he would have done tens of thousands of times opening his knee out a little bit to receive the ball and something's clicked in there which has caused a little bit of ligament damage," Cleverley said of Benarous. "It's disappointing for him because after the last couple of performances and the way he's been training he would have featured a lot in a few games."
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