Rooney gave Plymouth 'glowing reference' - Cleverley

Wayne Rooney was Plymouth boss for seven months

New Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley says he consulted former Pilgrims head coach Wayne Rooney before taking on the job.

The pair were team-mates at Manchester United where they won the 2013 Premier League together as well as playing alongside one another for England.

Former England captain Rooney left his role as Argyle boss on 31 December with the club bottom of the table to be replaced by Miron Muslic.

Cleverley was appointed earlier this month after Muslic left to take over at German side Schalke.

"I spoke not just with Wayne but other people who I know that have played for or coached at the club," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.

"He gave the club and the place a glowing reference and he's obviously someone's opinion that I can trust.

"I played with him for many years and I think it's important that I did some references, but most of all is what I see now through my own eyes.

"That will really start on Monday when I get on the pitch with the players and I make my own judgements, but I like to thoroughly research whatever I'm about to dive in to and the references were glowing."

Tom Cleverley is the fifth man in permanent charge at Plymouth Argyle in 18 months

The role at Argyle is 35-year-old Cleverley's second as a head coach, having been in charge at Watford last season.

Cleverley says that experience at the Hornets - who have had 10 permanent managers since sacking Nigel Pearson in 2020 - will stand him in good stead for his future career in management.

"It's obviously a football club that has its challenges being the head coach," Cleverley said.

"I had 14 months there that have really given me some good experience to handle things throughout the rest of my career.

"I'm grateful for that experience and now I feel like I can really translate that into a longer term project with real stability and I think you'll see me flourish as a coach."

Cleverley takes over a Pilgrims side that dropped back to the third tier after two seasons in the Championship.

Argyle chairman Simon Hallett is looking for new investment, and the club was linked with a bidder that included former Wales captain Gareth Bale among their consortium.

Cleverley says returning to the Championship is his "number one goal", but says it is important to build a legacy at the club as well.

"I also want to create a long-term process that doesn't just mean we're promoted or we're winning games over a short term," he added.

"I want to create a process that can have real sustainability to it, and when we eventually do go up a level, it's a process that we can continue and adapt.

"You have to be adaptable when you have a process, it's never going to be too rigid or too stubborn.

"I'm someone who does like to listen and get people's opinion and adapt from there whilst having a core set of principles."