'We connect as characters' - Cleverley on Adams' arrival

Derek Adams was Plymouth Argyle manager from 2015 to 2019

Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley says he and new director of football Derek Adams "connect as characters".

Former Pilgrims manager Adams was appointed last week and will be responsible for footballing matters at Home Park.

Adams will also take charge of recruitment, with Cleverley saying the club will not replace outgoing head of recruitment Tom Randle.

It means Adams, Cleverley and head of football operations David Fox will oversee January's transfer activity.

"I really like the first impressions," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon of his first meeting with Adams

"I think we connect as characters, we're very clear on what we like, we're decisive, we've connected well.

"We spoke about the technical aspect of the team as well as the recruitment and how January looks, and David Fox has been involved in all those conversations.

"I've got experience on my staff with Nance [Kevin Nancekivell] and Stowelly [goalkeeping coach Mike Stowell], and both of those guys have sat in my seat for short periods.

"But Derek is the guy who knows exactly what I feel and what I need, and he's been a great source of support in the week he's been in."

Tom Cleverley hopes to be able to strengthen Argyle's squad in January

Argyle are bottom of League One having won just four games in the third tier since being relegated from the Championship last season.

The Pilgrims have been hampered by serious injuries to players such as Xavier Amaechi, Caleb Watts, Julio Pleguezuelo and most recently Bradley Ibrahim - who will not feature until the new year after an ankle injury sustained this week.

But some fans have been critical of the summer recruitment following a major turnover of players in the wake of their relegation.

Cleverley says the club already has plans to strengthen the squad when the January transfer window opens.

"Those conversations have already happened," he added, before Saturday's trip to relegation rivals Port Vale.

"We had a long meeting with the three of us and Paul Berne [Plymouth Argyle chief executive] last week about what January looks like, about our current injury situation, about what positions we need to strengthen in, what players may be starting to become a bit unsettled.

"Nothing about the summer because we realise that the situation and the improvement needs to be right now.

"We're really ahead of the game on that, we have identified positions, players and now it's all about going out there and seeing what the availability of those would look like.

"We've had real backing from Paul to go and do that, and it's important that we do, but most importantly we've got a massive game on Saturday, so that is where all my focus is for the next 48 hours."