Cleverley feels 'well aligned' with Argyle's 'long-term vision'
Tom Cleverley believes his move to Plymouth Argyle will give him and the club the 'real longevity and stability' they both crave.
The former Hornets head coach has been appointed as the Pilgrims' new head coach on a three-year deal barely a month after being sacked at Vicarage Road.
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Tom Cleverley at Home Park last season where he had to watch the game from the stands (Image: PA) 'I'm very honoured and really proud [to be here],' Cleverley said in his first interview with Argyle TV. 'You can see the size of the club when you're sat here [at Harper's Park], the quality of the facilities, the stadium and the size of it in the background.
'As soon as I connected with people at the club, I knew this was a great move for me in my career. I feel like we're both craving real longevity and stability, and that's something that Argyle brings me. I can't wait to get started.'
Since his appointment was announced on Friday, it has been confirmed that former Hornets coaches Damon Lathrope and Matt Bevans will be joining Cleverley at the League One club where he feels chairman Simon Hallett, chief executive Andrew Parkinson and head of football operations David Fox share a long-term vision.
'I love how well-balanced and stable the club feels,' Cleverley said. 'That was both from looking at it from the outside, but when you meet Simon, David and Andrew, I felt well aligned.
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'We're in a results industry, we're in a short-term results industry, but there has to be a long-term vision, a real process to bring you long-term success and stability and to make sure that your performances are sustainable. I think Simon's someone who really understands that part of it.'
Cleverley also reflected on his experience at Home Park last season when he was serving a touchline ban and had to watch from the stands as former Watford striker Andre Gray scored a last-gasp equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw for the hosts in November.
'I've had two experiences of being inside Home Park and the atmosphere, once as a player and once as a coach,' he said. 'It was a little bit of a different experience as the head coach as I was suspended that game, so I was really in and amongst it.
'I saw Andre Gray's equalising goal go in when I was heading from the director's box to the tunnel, and I was as in amongst it as you can possibly get, so I understand how important the atmosphere can be and how good it is here, how passionate people are and ultimately how much the football club behind us really galvanises this community and that's important to me.
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'I can't wait [to be back]. I'll have to be honest, as a player, I didn't always look forward to seeing the grass again after six weeks off. As a coach, I miss it after three days. This is why you do the long hours. This is why you don't retire as a player and play golf because of the smell of the grass, the sound of the studs clattering, and walking up to the training ground.
'This is football. This is why I love it. I can't wait to meet the players and supporters and get to work on the grass.'
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