Chris Errington: It's important Plymouth Argyle get the right man

ARGYLE are expected to unveil their new director of football before the Devon derby against Exeter City at St James' Park on Saturday.

I understand three candidates, including 61-year-old former Colchester United manager John Ward, have been interviewed.

Argyle's recently installed non-executive director Colin Sexstone is leading the appointment process, but with input from Pilgrims' boss Carl Fletcher.

Ward certainly ticks all the boxes when it comes to the criteria laid down by the Pilgrims for their director of football.

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He is vastly experienced at all levels of professional football, initially as the assistant to Graham Taylor at Watford and Aston Villa before making his own way in management.

It is also important, however, that whoever Argyle appoint has a constructive working relationship with Fletcher.

That was clearly not the case when John Deehan had a short spell as the Pilgrims' director of football towards the end of last season.

Deehan was brought in as a 'mentor' to Fletcher but, for whatever reason, had only a minimal involvement at the club.

Fletcher's former Bournemouth boss Sean O'Driscoll had been lined up for the post until, at the last minute, he was offered the chance to become first team coach at Nottingham Forest.

Not surprisingly, O'Driscoll took up the opportunity and later became Forest's manager but, by all accounts, he recommended Deehan to Argyle.

Deehan's short-term contract was not renewed in the summer, leaving Fletcher with Romain Larrieu and Kevin Nancekivell as his backroom staff for the new season.

Fletcher is now 15 months into his first managerial post and Argyle's recent dreadful results have cranked up the pressure on him.

Some fans – and while it is always hard to exactly gauge the depth of feeling, it does seem to be a substantial number – have called for the two-time former Pilgrims' player-of-the-year to be replaced.

Yet, Argyle owner and chairman James Brent and his directors have made it clear they have belief in Fletcher and his potential as a young manager.

That, they say, is why they have decided to appoint a director of football, someone who will provide advice and support to Fletcher but also deal with budgets and contractual issues, for example.

So whoever is chosen will be much more than simply a 'mentor' to Fletcher. He will be hands-on when it comes to a variety of issues.

That will allow Fletcher to concentrate on his work on the training ground, and trying to get the players in his squad to perform to the best of their ability on a more consistent basis.

Fletcher will be hoping the 2-0 win against York City at Home Park on Saturday will be the start of a good sequence of results for his side and not a one-off.

The Devon derby against in-form Exeter will certainly be a stern test of Argyle's capabilities.