Plymouth Argyle confirm Carl Fletcher as manager

Plymouth Argyle have appointed Carl Fletcher as the club's player-manager on a full-time basis following the club's takeover.

The 31-year-old former Wales midfielder has been doing the job on a caretaker basis since Peter Reid was sacked as Argyle boss in September.

Since that time Fletcher has led Argyle to two wins and a draw in his seven games in charge.

Argyle goalkeeper Romain Larrieu has also been installed as his number two.

"Both me and Ro want to do well for the club and for everyone here to try and get the club back to where it belongs," Fletcher said.

"We will continue to work hard day in and day out to try to get that done."

Plymouth chairman of football operations Peter Ridsdale says he has been happy with the way the duo have run the team.

"Both Carl and Romain have impressed since taking temporary charge of first team duties and they have earned the chance to undertake their responsibilities on a permanent basis.

"It is important that we clarify the position of the football management, who have been undertaking their responsibilities on an acting basis since Peter Reid's departure in September," he added.

Fletcher has played just once since taking the manager's job, in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Cheltenham Town.

He was suspended for three matches after being sent off in Argyle's 2-0 loss at Southend last month, Reid's last game in charge.

Fletcher began his footballing career at AFC Bournemouth in 1997 before signing for West Ham for £275,000 in 2004.

He made more than 50 appearances for the Hammers, including starting the 2006 FA Cup final against Liverpool, before joining Crystal Palace for £400,000 in July 2006.

After falling out of the side at Selhurst Park he had a loan spell at Nottingham Forest in October 2008 before joining Argyle on loan in February 2009.

He signed for the club on a permanent basis in July that year and has made more than 100 appearances for Argyle.

Fletcher has captained Wales and won 36 caps for his country.

And the new manager says he is now looking forward to working for the club's new owner James Brent.

"It's good that everything is taken over, and it's nice we can concentrate on the football side of things.

"There are things we wanted to change that we haven't been able to, considering the position of the club. Hopefully, we can get that sorted now," he said.

"Since we came in, we've worked our socks off, trying to give ourselves the best opportunity to win games. We'll continue to do that."