Kevin Nancekivell is looking for Plymouth Argyle to ‘get a result and a performance to make us all proud’ when they take on Bristol City at Home Park tomorrow.
The long-serving first team coach has taken temporary charge of the team, along with club captain Joe Edwards, after Argyle and head coach Wayne Rooney parted ways today. Nancekivell stressed it would be very much a joint effort between him and Edwards, who has not played since October due to a hamstring injury.
The pair took training at Harper’s Park this morning after the news emerged that Rooney’s reign at Argyle had come to an end after just 23 Championship matches, and only four wins. Nancekivell and Edwards then spoke to Argyle TV this afternoon.
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Nancekivell said: “It’s never nice because whenever you have to step in and help the club out it ultimately means someone has lost their job, which we are always sad to see.
“We have to move on. The board have made a decision and some members of staff have left us. Joe and myself have been asked to look after the club in the interim period, which we will do, and we have prepared the lads the best we can for tomorrow’s Bristol City game. Hopefully we can get a result and a performance to make us all proud.”
Nancekivell is taking temporary charge of Argyle for a fifth time, and the third occasion in the past 13 months, but it is a new role for Edwards, who has not made a secret of his ambition to move into coaching when his playing career ends.
Edwards said: “Obviously, it happens in football, and it has happened a couple of times since I have been here. There has always been one man who has kept it together, and that’s Nance. He’s trusted with that because of how highly he is thought of within the group and the club, which is fantastic.
“He called me to explain the news and what’s going on, and asked for my help and ‘we need to do it together’ sort of thing. I love the club so it will be something I want to do to help in this situation because at the moment that is our roles, to help and galvanise the group and do it together.”
Nancekivell emphasised that last point made by Edwards. “We are very much doing it together,” he said. “There is no pecking order, no hierarchy at all. I’m a little bit older than Joe so that’s probably the only difference.
“We need each other. This is probably the fifth time I have done it now and there is no-one I would want next to me apart from Joe Edwards. His standing in the football club, his standing in the changing room, his standing with the supporters is huge.
“He has got a vast knowledge and vast experience and is someone I need to lean on as much as I can. Hopefully, I can lean on Joe and Joe can lean on me. We will be doing it together. We have done training together and it’s very much a joined up effort.”
Nancekivell believes some continuity amid all the turmoil over Rooney leaving, as well as recently-appointed assistant head coach Mike Phelan and Simon Ireland, is essential to help the players focus on the game against Bristol City.
He said: “I think in times like this there is a lot of uncertainty for players, supporters and members of staff so I suppose continuity to make sure we all remain solid and together within the group, to make sure everyone pulls in the right direction and we keep the messages simple that they feel reassured when they go out on the pitch at half-12 tomorrow they know their jobs and they know what’s at stake.”
Edwards added: “Going through it previously, I can help the lads because I know how they will be feeling right now. Like Nance has touched on, the uncertainty is probably the biggest thing but when you have got a stable base in me and him I think that can really help.
“I can be there to encourage, like I would be if I was playing or if I was captain, but I can also then help Nance as well a little bit more and just be the little go-between if needed be.
“We have got a great group of lads who all respect each other, and us, and I think our message this morning has been about coming together and doing it together. It’s not about any individual, or it’s not about me or Nance, or anything like that. It’s about a group of people that need to come together to get a result because ultimately that’s where we are at.”
Argyle are rock bottom of the Championship after only one win their last 14 games and are in desperate need of a boost when they play against Bristol City.
Nancekivell said: “We haven’t picked up results well enough over the last three or four months and we need to start quickly. That has been the focus of today really, to make sure the lads are energised, got the enthusiasm and go and play with a passion that represents this football club.
“Our supporters, I have said it on many occasions, are the best and they need to see we are right with them, which we are. Hopefully, tomorrow we can galvanise the lads and we can put on a performance that makes everyone really, really proud.”
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