Guy Branston aims to get Plymouth Argyle out of pickle

GUY BRANSTON is looking no further forward than the next four months after signing a short-term deal for Plymouth Argyle.

The 34-year-old centre-back wants to play his part in ensuring the Pilgrims escape relegation from the Football League.

Should that aim be achieved, then there is every chance the no-nonsense Branston will be rewarded with another contract.

He has gone straight into Argyle's squad for their League Two game against Morecambe at Home Park today (3pm).

Branston signed a one-year contract for Aldershot Town in the summer after leaving Bradford City but soon fell out of favour.

He moved on loan to Bristol Rovers in November and made four starts, scoring one goal in a 3-3 draw at home to Bradford.

Branston returned to Aldershot at the start of January and, almost immediately, had his contract terminated by mutual consent.

Now he has been snapped up by Sheridan as the replacement for former Argyle captain Darren Purse, who recently moved to Port Vale.

Branston has previously played for Sheridan at Oldham Athletic – one of 20 clubs he has appeared for during his much-travelled career – so knows what to expect from him.

Sheridan put in a phone call to Branston on Thursday night and invited him to training.

It took only one session yesterday to convince Sheridan to offer the 6ft 2in former Torquay United centre-back a contract until the end of the season.

Branston was thrilled with his move to Argyle, with whom he had a two-month loan spell from Leicester City in the 1998/99 season.

He and his family have lived in Devon since his time at Torquay so signing for the Pilgrims suits him perfectly.

Branston told Herald Sport: "It's blatantly about helping the gaffer out, helping me get games, and helping the football club to stay in this division.

"That's all we are looking at. All I want for the next four months is to get my head down and work as hard as I can, and know I gave it my all for Plymouth.

"That's why I have had so many clubs. People know I put a shift in. You know you are guaranteed that from me, and then we will see how it goes after that."

Branston has a regular slot on Sky Sports News Radio on Thursday nights and, by coincidence, this week he followed an interview with Sheridan.

"I switched my phone off for an hour after I had done the radio show to relax, because my missus tells me to," said Branston.

"Before I went to bed, I turned my phone back on and it came up John had left me a message. So I called him and he asked me if I was fit."

Branston, Torquay's player-of-the-year in 2010/11, arrived at Home Park yesterday morning and expected to be on trial.

However, after his first training session, Sheridan offered him a contract with Argyle until the end of the season.

Branston has his own website – www.allaboutballerz.com – which is a platform for footballers to showcase their talent by uploading video clips of themselves in action.

As he was a free agent, Branston sent his own video to Sheridan after his appointment as Argyle manager.

He then called him and waited in hope for a return call. It finally came on Thursday night.

Branston's video clip also attracted interest from Accrington Stanley, AFC Wimbledon and Rochdale but Sheridan wasted no time in getting him on board.

"He doesn't mess around anyway," said Branston. "He probably knew I was out of contract.

"He will have lists and lists in his head of players who he can bring in. He might see me as a stop-gap, but that's fine. I'm still employed.

"I have got a job now and that's good for me because I have got a family to feed.

"Unfortunately, lower league football is like that. You can't be picking and choosing. You are very lucky if you have got four or five clubs after you.

"I had a few clubs sniffing because I had only just been released from my contract at Aldershot.

"I was happy to wait the month out, so to actually get it done so early is an absolute bonus for me and I can thank the gaffer for that.

"He didn't want to mess around either. He's here to keep this team in the division and then see where it goes."

On Sheridan, Branston added: "He's straight to the point. If you upset him he will tell you. If you are doing well for him he will applaud you.

"That's what you need. You don't need someone talking a load of rubbish to you."

Branston, who has taken over the number five shirt from Purse, made eight starts and scored two goals for Argyle during his loan spell from November 1998 to January 1999.

Kevin Hodges was the Pilgrims boss at the time and wanted to sign Branston on a permanent transfer.

However, Branston was 20 at the time and reluctant to move so far away from his family in the east Midlands.

He ended up making a move to Rotherham United for £50,000 that November.