Plymouth Argyle

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Plymouth Argyle manager Tom Cleverley says he was relieved to see Lorent Tolaj's 'Panenka' penalty go in during the 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic.

The 23-year-old Swiss striker dinked the ball into the net from 12 yards to give the Pilgrims a 1-0 lead at Home Park.

The risky manoeuvre with 20 minutes to go gave the summer signing his sixth goal in as many games for Argyle - to the delight of the home crowd - although Fraser Murray's equaliser meant the hosts had to share the points.

"He's got a great goalscoring record," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.

"I think that makes him unpredictable, certainly as a penalty taker.

"Would I have done that on the windiest day of the year? I'm not sure I would, but it was executed very well, I must say."

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Brendan Wiredu says overcoming the abuse he received after his Plymouth Argyle debut has made him stronger.

Argyle condemned online abuse the 25-year-old suffered after the 3-1 home loss to Barnsley in the opening game of the season.

Wiredu scored an own goal, made a mistake that led - in part - to Barnsley's second goal and was booked for an on-pitch scuffle before being substituted at half-time.

But he has since been in good form as part of a successful back three in defence, after beginning the season in midfield.

"Throughout my career I've not really had a period like that; everything's been smooth sailing and it was going to happen sooner or later," he told BBC Radio Devon.

"But I'm grateful that it's happened to me because it's made me a stronger, better person mentally.

"Looking back at it, I'm glad that it's happened because going forward it's going to put me in good stead."

Wiredu has started every one of Plymouth's current run of five wins in their past six games, and the former Fleetwood Town player says he feels he is starting to put in consistent performances.

"I always believe in myself and I hope that now I'm showing what I can do and what I was brought to the club to do," he added.

"I wasn't brought here for a token gesture, I was brought here for a reason.

"I feel like now I'm getting in a position where I'm able to show what I'm doing and I'm just trying to keep that consistent level."

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Plymouth Argyle have appointed Paul Berne as the club's new chief executive.

The 51-year-old succeeds Andrew Parkinson, who stepped down last month, and will officially begin his new role on 1 January.

Berne has been a director of the League One club since 2019 and was most recently chief executive at Trewithen Dairy.

He has also worked in finance roles for Ginsters and Samworth Brothers.

"Paul brings a wealth of experience to the role having held several high-level positions across a range of sectors," chairman Simon Hallett told the club website.

"He will bring a freshness and energy to the role that will lift the whole club as we continue the rebuild both on and off the pitch."

Berne added: "Having been involved at board level since 2019, I have seen first-hand the transformation the club has been under both on and off the pitch under Andrew's leadership.

"I now have the opportunity to continue that work using my background and expertise, and help Argyle continue to excel.

"The club has huge potential, and it is now my job to help realise our ambitions to be a sustainable Championship club."

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Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley says he is not concerned by Freddie Issaka's lack of game time in his loan spell at Bristol Rovers.

The Wales youth international winger has made just two late substitute appearances for the Pirates since moving to the League Two side on transfer deadline day.

The 19-year-old has a season-long deal at the Memorial Stadium and has played 38 times in all competitions for Argyle during his career.

"Freddie's been here since eight, nine years old, and Freddie's probably always been viewed as the young player, the academy product, the star boy coming through," Cleverley said.

"You can get wrapped in bubble wrap a little bit. Freddie's out there now, he's got to go prove to a manager, he's got to go knock on a manager's door and say 'why am I not playing? What have I got to do to do that?'

"He's got to do that. He's got to come on and be reliable if they need a goal. It's all a big part of Freddie's learning. Not every loan move is the perfect loan move.

"I have no reservations about sending a player somewhere where it's going to be tougher."

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Tom Cleverley says he is pleased his two-match touchline ban had no effect on his Plymouth Argyle side.

Saturday's 4-0 win at Burton Albion saw the Pilgrims produce their biggest away win in the league since a 4-0 victory at Fleetwood Town in February 2014.

Cleverley watched from the stands after serving the first of his two-game suspension for his red card at Luton Town earlier this month, which also cost the Pilgrims boss a £4,000 fine.

In his absence, assistant Damon Lathrope and long-serving Argyle coach Kevin Nancekivell were in the dugout.

"I'm gutted I wasn't on pitch level, but taking a back step sometimes and actually see it unfold exactly how you planned it is really rewarding for a coach," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.

"Damon and Nance are more than capable hands to manage things at pitch level and it was a great performance.

"Damon's a fantastic young coach, he's got a hell of a bright future in the game, and the nice balance we've got Nance there who knows the club inside out, he's been there, he's done that.

"The advantage is I get a better view, I can see the distances, I can see the shape better.

"I wouldn't choose to, like Richie Wellens (Leyton Orient boss) does, but our performance levels will not drop because I'm not there.

"The work in the week's been excellent, the players delivered it and they deserve a lot of credit."

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Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley says the return of Northern Ireland goalkeeper Conor Hazard is a "huge plus" for his side.

The 27-year-old had not played since injuring his knee while playing for his country against Denmark in June.

Cleverley said he had been deliberating whether to bring back the former Celtic goalkeeper or keep faith with summer signing Luca Ashby-Hammond, who played in Argyle's first 12 games as Hazard recovered.

But Cleverley opted to pick Hazard, who kept a clean sheet as the Pilgrims registered their biggest league win of the season so far, running out 4-0 victors at Burton Albion.

"The last league game we looked like we lacked leadership on the pitch, so he brings that," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.

"It was always going to be a physical game, a direct game here and when you're six foot six you help there.

"It was the game for Conor to come back in. I thought he was excellent, he brought those things that we've been missing.

"Luca will continue to push him to the levels that he needs to keep his shirt, but it's a huge plus for us to have Conor back and a clean sheet."

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Plymouth Argyle defender Jack Mackenzie will be out for a further four to six weeks after suffering from shin splints.

The 25-year-old has yet to play for the Pilgrims since his summer move from Aberdeen after suffering tendonitis in his knee during pre-season.

But having overcome that problem the Scottish Cup winner has been sidelined with a new issue which will likely keep him out until November.

It is another blow to the Pilgrims who have lost Julio Pleguezuelo, Caleb Watts and Xavier Amaechi until the New Year.

"Jack's just not got going since he's come to the club, to no fault of anyone's really, the medical team, no-one, because he's been doing some really low level rehab that he's reacted badly to," head coach Tom Cleverley said.

"He's a good lad. He's professional. He's desperate more than anyone to get back, he's just going through a real period of bad luck, as we are as a football club really.

"You could say we've got six or seven potential starters out at the minute.

"It's definitely something we're aware of as a football club and again adds to our little bit of inconsistency."

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Plymouth Argyle are closing in on appointing a new goalkeeper coach.

It comes after news that Darryl Flahavan is to leave the club.

The 46-year-old former Southend United and Bournemouth player had been at Home Park since January 2024 having previously spent time coaching at clubs including Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday.

"Darryl's been a fantastic servant to the football club, he's very good at what he does," head coach Tom Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.

"He will be leaving the football club for personal reasons and the process of replacing him has been wheels in motion for the last couple of weeks.

"We are narrowing that down to a couple of strong candidates and I'm sure there will be an announcement in the next few days."