Huge reaction from fans after Plymouth appoint Tom Cleverley as their new head coach

There has been a huge reaction from fans after Plymouth Argyle choose appoint Tom Cleverley as their new head coach.

The 35 year old signs on a three-year contract, months after guiding Watford to a 14th-place finish in the Championship last season.

He was reported Plymouth’s top target following Miron Muslic’s departure, with Chairman Simon Hallett and CEO Andrew Parkinson praising Cleverley’s alignment with Argyle’s vision and his potential to drive the club’s ambitions in League One.

Despite being the club’s fourth head coach since January 2024, Cleverley joins a relatively stable environment with a decent budget for the level, aiming for promotion after last season’s relegation.

Recruitment and retention, particularly for players like Adam Randell and Ryan Hardie, will be key challenges. Discussions about his backroom staff are ongoing.

🖊️ Everybody, please welcome our new Head Coach – Tom Cleverley.

— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) June 13, 2025

PLYMOUTH STATEMENT:

Argyle are delighted to confirm the appointment of Tom Cleverley as the club’s new Head Coach on a three-year contract.

Cleverley was most recently Head Coach of Sky Bet Championship side Watford, who he led to a 14th-place finish in his first full season in charge, before departing the club in May.

Highly rated throughout the game as both a coach and a player, the 35-year-old joins Argyle ahead of the upcoming League One season, and will begin work immediately, before the players return for pre-season at the end of next week.

Chairman Simon Hallett is delighted to secure our number one target and commented: “Ever since Miron’s departure, and knowing Tom was available, we identified him straight away as the perfect person to be our next Head Coach and targeted him immediately.

“When we spoke to him he was completely aligned with the vision and ambitions of the club and it was clear throughout that Tom was the right fit for us.

“He is fully invested in our long-term plans and will play a key role in helping us achieve them.

“He is young, passionate and did a great job at Watford. We are thrilled to bring him to Argyle and look forward to seeing the impact he has on the talented squad at his disposal.”

Argyle Chief Executive Andrew Parkinson added: “We were inundated with interest from prospective candidates, which shows how exciting this project is. But, throughout the process, it was clear that Tom was the perfect person to take the club forward.

“He’s been highly sought after, so we are really pleased we have been able to bring him to Argyle and look forward to seeing him build a squad and style of play that will see us challenging at the top end of League One this season.”

Discussions regarding backroom staff are ongoing, and will be announced in due course.

BBC Sport’s Brent Pilnick said: “Tom Cleverley joins a club intent on returning to the Championship at the first attempt after their relegation last season.

“Having gambled on head coaches with little positive first-team experience in Ian Foster and Wayne Rooney, Argyle have gone for a man who was well-received during his time at Watford.

“Despite being Argyle’s fourth head coach since January 2024, he is arguably joining a more stable environment for a manager than at Watford – Steven Schumacher and Miron Muslic both left for other clubs while Foster and Rooney’s poor records required their removal.

“Cleverley’s major concern will be recruitment and retention – Adam Randell and Ryan Hardie both have 12 months left on their deals, while the club has players such as Michael Baidoo and Rami Al Hajj who struggled to adapt to the English game last season.

“He will have a decent budget for the level, with owner Simon Hallett saying it is bigger than the club had when they won League One in 2023.

“But that means the pressure will be on to produce a promotion push – especially with there being no mammoth spenders like Birmingham City and Wrexham in the division this season.”

As mentioned, there has been a huge reaction from fans after Plymouth appoint Tom Cleverley as their new head coach…

@BadAtGamesLuke: Since rooney appointments have been mad great! Respect to the club see you back in the championship very soon Argyle proppa club!

@markjonescp: Congratulations to Plymouth Argyle. Great up and coming manager. Good luck for the season ahead. Watford fan ⬛️🟨

@Block9Podcast: Welcome aboard Tom! What a great appointment! 👍

@jigga_11: Whether we you like it or not you’ve just gained thousands of Watford fans who will also support you guys this season – even more so when you play that lot up the road from us!

@tomPAFC_: Not to be dramatic but we’re winning the lot

@James_Nutter: Burnley fan here. Cleverley will be best appointment you’ve had for a long time. Top manager him in a few years

@Matty_PUSB: Great appointment this. Hope he does well for you 🫡

@MarcLowry9: In the last six months of the League 1 title winning season HP was absolutely buzzing and I think this appointment will bring back those glory days. 💚

@JackWFC1234: You’ve appointed a good manager here, and an even better bloke. I might be biased because I adore the man but this is great. Hope you get promoted!!

@MrsFoxtrotwhisk: Welcome Clevs, you have made a brilliant decision. The green army will get behind you, and support you as we challenge for promotion. What an effusive message from Simon Hallett, to have got our no.1 target, we are going places #pafc

@jbrent01: Welcome Tom. Congratulations to everyone at the club who was involved in securing his signature. Looking forward to next season with renewed optimism. 💚

@hazza_wfc: What a great manager yous have got on your hands here. Best of luck clevs 💛

@upTheArgo: Incredible appointment that

@kathy742: Yay so happy to have you with us welcome! let’s look forward to a great season ahead 💚💚

@olpafc_: All that I care about is Tom Cleverley 😍

@ArgyleMemes: Actually going to be class having Tom Cleverley as our Gaffer for six months. Genuinely buzzing. #PAFC

@muggins_77: All the best Tom. Superb appointment, love him to bits. Thought we would go down last season, yet he got sacked for missing out play offs, with zero investment. Makes me sad that our tosser of an owner binned him off. #pafc #watfordfc

@tino_santino: As i said yesterday, really pleased for all you Lovely Greens. Not fair to judge him from Watford as many managers have failed there, shit environment. He seems like a nice fit for you guys, likeable bloke, not full of shit like that last used car salesman you just had #pafc

@_cobibudge: The happiest I’ve been about an appointment since Ryan Lowe. TC is a young and an ambitious coach with a full season of management under his belt in the division above. Excellent reviews from Watford fans and the wider footballing community. What’s not to like? #pafc

@guildford_aaron: Got a very good man in charge here, please look after him #plymouthfc

@lukewallis82: Unbelievable appointment, fair play lads 👏🏼

❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/NZyOgbigL0

— Ryan 🐝🐝🐝 (@duzza007) June 13, 2025