Fletcher: I can't keep everyone happy

CARL FLETCHER hopes to celebrate his first anniversary as manager of Plymouth Argyle with a win against Bristol Rovers at Home Park tonight (7.45pm).

It is one year today since Peter Reid was sacked by former Pilgrims chairman of football Peter Ridsdale and replaced, 24 hours later, by Fletcher.

The former Wales international midfielder, still the second youngest boss in the Football League at the age of 32, has enjoyed the experience.

Fletcher told Herald Sport: "Early on, you learn you can't keep everyone happy. Everyone else seems to know best.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

"I think you have to be very focused on what you want to achieve and how you want to do it, and stick to your beliefs.

"You see managers all over the country talk about it, and I never really took much notice of it until I was in the job.

"I remember someone saying to me 'no-one will understand the job I'm doing unless they have been a manager themselves' and I totally agree.

"Like anyone, you are going to make right decisions and you are going to make wrong ones.

"At the end of the day, if you make them yourself then it's down to you, so I think that's a key thing, and it's something I have learned as the year has gone on."

Fletcher has compiled a record of 11 wins, 17 draws and 15 defeats in 43 league games as Argyle manager.

He said: "The year has gone really quickly. You work all week and then the game comes and it's such a quick turnaround.

"After the final whistle, you literally have five or 10 minutes and then you are already thinking about the next game.

"It all moulds into one really, and if you ask me to put dates on certain things I wouldn't be able to. I would have to go game by game.

"It has been hard work, and I have not had many good nights' sleep, but when you get good results and good performances it makes it all worthwhile."

Fletcher admitted it had taken him time to get used to spending so much of his working day in his office at Home Park.

He said: "In terms of the games and the training, being the manager is how I expected it.

"Everything else away from that is very different. You have to deal with a lot of other stuff.

"I have never had an office life before, and that has been quite an eye-opener for me, but I love all the training and the football side of it.

"That's where I get my kick out of it, but all the other side is just not what I have been used to so it's a bit more of a learning curve."

Meanwhile, Argyle apprentice striker Tyler Harvey is being lined up as a possible first team player of the future.

The 17-year-old from Oreston took part in the pre-match warm-up with the rest of the Pilgrims squad before the 3-1 defeat by Port Vale at Home Park on Saturday.

Fletcher said: "Tyler has been up training with us a few times when we have been short on numbers.

"It was good experience for him on Saturday so that if he keeps doing well and becomes a part of things in the future he's comfortable with it.

"It helps we have got some good young players in there anyway that he knows from the youth team."