logo
Plymouth Argyle need 'someone who will stick around'

Plymouth Argyle need 'someone who will stick around'

BBC News2 days ago

Plymouth Argyle have started the search for their next head coach after Miron Muslic left last week to join German side Schalke.Names such as Jack Wilshere, Rob Edwards, Ian Evatt and Michael Duff are being put forward by fans as possible options to succeed Muslic.But Joe Bell from the Green and White podcast, which follows the ups and downs of Argyle, says stability is key after three different managers since Steven Schumacher left the club 18 months ago."When you think about the last couple of years, we had so much stability before Steven Schumacher left," Bell told BBC Spotlight."Since he departed for Stoke, we've lost all semblance of stability."It's our fourth search in a very short space of time for a head coach and we need to find somebody who's going to stick around.""I hope it's a swift appointment, but it needs to be the right person," he added."Somebody who has promotion credentials in English football, preferably in this league, and maybe someone who isn't a flash name who won't be as attractive to other clubs when they're doing well at Argyle."If we can find that mix - and I don't know where we find them - but if we can get that together, we'll have found the right man."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

England exodus exposes lack of Plan B, writes TARA ANSON-WALSH, as Sarina Wiegman faces mounting crisis ahead of Euros title defence
England exodus exposes lack of Plan B, writes TARA ANSON-WALSH, as Sarina Wiegman faces mounting crisis ahead of Euros title defence

Daily Mail​

time24 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

England exodus exposes lack of Plan B, writes TARA ANSON-WALSH, as Sarina Wiegman faces mounting crisis ahead of Euros title defence

Three Lionesses have withdrawn their names from this summer's Euros hat, leaving Sarina Wiegman facing a mounting crisis. Less than 24 hours after Fran Kirby announced her retirement from international football following England 's 2-1 defeat to Spain, centre-back Millie Bright has also made herself unavailable for selection. Bright – who captained England during the 2023 World Cup campaign – said she was 'right now not able to give 100 per cent mentally or physically' for England's title defence in Switzerland. She follows Earps, who had fallen down Wiegman's pecking order and was likely to be starting from the bench, and Kirby, who had been told by the Dutch coach she wasn't going to make the Euros squad, out of the door. But this is not simply a crisis of who's left to start the games. Wiegman was clearly already heading in a different direction, prompting Kirby and Earps to call it a day. Bright will be more sorely missed in that respect, as she was destined to partner Leah Williamson at the heart of the Lionesses' defence this summer. However, there is a more-than-able deputy in Alex Greenwood, who can easily slot into the back three alongside Williamson and Jess Carter. What now threatens to shatter the nation's hopes of a second consecutive major European title is who is there to pick up the pieces if injury rules out another player. Wiegman refused to answer whether she asked Kirby to be on standby for the Euros, citing the question 'irrelevant', but surely having someone of the Brighton forward's stature around, with 77 caps to her name and four major tournament appearances, is relevant – and better than throwing an uncapped player in at the deep end? Over the years, Wiegman has become increasingly dependent on a small inner circle of trusted players – particularly veterans like Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway. Given they have 65 major trophies between them, that is understandable. And in Tuesday night's clash with Spain, Wiegman fielded a side that, with just four changes, closely resembled the one that contested the World Cup final in Sydney nearly two years ago. There is nothing inherently wrong with consistency. But what happens when that dependable core begins to fray? Right now, it appears there isn't a Plan B. Wiegman has been reluctant to refresh her ranks since taking charge, and that is proving increasingly worrying – not only for the short-term aims of England's title defence this summer, but also for the long-term health of the squad. Walsh's knee injury in the group stage of the World Cup and the subsequent panic should have been a warning sign. England rallied then, but it was a glimpse into a squad overly dependent on certain individuals. Yet since that final, Walsh has played more minutes than any other Lioness. And with the current set of players, there is no natural defensive midfielder ready to deputise should she fall again. There are further gaps in experience all over the pitch. In the goalkeeping department, Hannah Hampton is now the only capped shot-stopper in the squad. Lucy Bronze, meanwhile, is the only recognised right-back. Wiegman has suggested she sees Maya Le Tissier providing cover there, and yet the Manchester United captain has almost exclusively played as a centre-back since her top-flight debut six-and-a-half years ago. And the lack of experience behind Wiegman's trusted XI was laid bare against the world champions on Tuesday night when Bronze and Stanway were substituted to manage loads. Carter – out of position at right-back – and debutant Missy-Bo Kearns stepped in. England looked quickly devoid of control and conceded twice. Of course, against most teams a single gap will not necessarily be fatal. As it wasn't against Portugal, when Alessia Russo's injury forced Wiegman to start 21-year-old Aggie Beever-Jones – the Chelsea striker making the most of the opportunity to announce herself on the world stage with a hat-trick on her Wembley debut. Equally, when you're up against a better side when the stakes are at their highest, getting on the wrong end of these fine margins can ultimately send you home. Wiegman has taken this team to unprecedented heights, but the road ahead is demanding evolution. Get it wrong, and another major title could end up being just a pipe dream.

Police investigate heart surgery patient deaths at East Yorkshire hospital
Police investigate heart surgery patient deaths at East Yorkshire hospital

The Guardian

time24 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Police investigate heart surgery patient deaths at East Yorkshire hospital

Police have launched an investigation into the deaths of heart surgery patients at an East Yorkshire hospital. The investigation is focusing on transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures carried out on elderly and frail patients at Castle Hill hospital, near Hull. There have been no arrests in connection with the investigation, which Humberside police said was in its 'very early stages'. A BBC investigation found concerns had been raised about the deaths of 11 patients after the procedure to replace a damaged valve in the heart. It is a surgery used in people with heart disease who are not well enough for major heart surgery, as the heart does not need to be stopped, unlike in bypass surgery. However it does still carry serious risk as it involves surgeons inserting an instrument with a balloon into a leg or chest artery, which is moved into position near the opening of the aortic valve. Space for new tissue is then created by inflating the balloon, which supports the heart valve. The Humber Health Care Partnership, which runs Castle Hill through Hull university teaching hospitals NHS trust (HUTH), told the BBC that three separate reviews conducted after concerns were raised found deaths after this type of surgery at the hospital were in line with the national average. It said families who had lost loved ones were invited to ask questions and that the trust was 'happy to answer those directly'. The spokesperson said: 'Three separate external reviews of our TAVI service have been undertaken and shown that mortality rates associated with TAVI are similar to national mortality rates over a four-year period. 'The Royal College of Physicians was invited to review the service in 2021, at the request of the trust's chief medical officer. 'The Royal College report concluded that the TAVI service is essential for the Humber and North Yorkshire region and needs to be expanded. 'It stated however that the design of the service should be reviewed and invested in. The report offered a number of actions for improvement and we have delivered against all of those since it was shared with us.' A Humberside police spokesperson said: 'An investigation is in the very early stages in relation to deaths following surgery at Castle Hill hospital. Inquiries are being carried out and at this time, we can confirm no arrests have been made.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store