Plymouth Argyle name Carl Fletcher as interim manager

Plymouth Argyle have named 31-year-old captain Carl Fletcher as their caretaker manager.

The move comes after Peter Reid was sacked as Plymouth boss on Sunday after a run of eight successive defeats which has left the club bottom of League Two.

Veteran goalkeeper Romain Larrieu will be Fletcher's assistant at Argyle, who are still in administration.

"We want to get this dark cloud away from the football club and have a bright future," Fletcher said.

"Everyone who is involved with Argyle wants everyone to do well.

"It's a big change personally, but I've been thinking about management for a few years now.

"As a player you mature and see the game differently and see different things," he added.

Fletcher initially joined Plymouth permanent that summer.

He has made 103 appearances for Argyle and has scored eight goals, the latest being the equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Shrewsbury at the start of this season, the only point Argyle have so far got in League Two this term.

Argyle are still in administration with three bidders submitting plans to take over the club.

And former Wales international Fletcher was quick to appreciate that the off-field issues have made life at Home Park tough.

"With everything that's gone on off the field it's been very difficult for everyone involved," he said.

"It's a new challenge now, me and Ro (Romain Larrieu) will try and do things our own way and put in 100% effort.

"For us to achieve anything it's not going to be me and Ro or me, Ro and the players, it's going to be everyone," he added.

Fletcher is suspended for the next three games after being sent off in Saturday's 2-0 loss at Southend.

He began his career at AFC Bournemouth before moving to West Ham, where he played in the 2006 FA Cup final defeat against Liverpool.

He moved to Crystal Palace for £400,000 in July 2006, and after spending a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, joined Argyle three years later.

"I think we've got a strong belief in ourselves and, having been a footballer for over half my life, you learn a lot, and I've always been thinking about the game," said Fletcher's new number two Larrieu.

"I don't switch off from football very easily, we have plenty of ideas that we've shared and we know the players, so we believe that there is a good crop of lads here," he added.

Acting chairman Peter Ridsdale said that he approached Fletcher soon after he sacked Reid.

"I spoke to Carl an hour after Peter left and asked him if he was free to speak.

"We've been together, Carl and I, for the last four hours, but the first time Carl was aware was not long after I left Peter," he said.

Fletcher called on the Plymouth fans to get behind the club as he and Larrieu look to get them off the football of the League Two table.

"It's a great club and a great community and for everyone involved it's going to take everybody pushing in the right direction.

"Hopefully the takeover is close and then there'll be a brighter future."