John Sheridan wants three new signings at Plymouth Argyle by Saturday

JOHN SHERIDAN is confident of completing three loan signings before his first game as Plymouth Argyle manager.

The relegation-threatened Pilgrims take on Morecambe at Home Park on Saturday and Sheridan will be busy between now and then trying to add to the Pilgrims' squad.

Sheridan has signed a contract as manager until the end of the season, but with the prospect of a longer-term deal should he lead Argyle to safety.

The 48-year-old thought it would be a 'travesty' were the Pilgrims to be relegated out of the League.

Backroom staff Romain Larrieu and Kevin Nancekivell are remaining at Home Park, for the time being at least, and will be able to give Sheridan an insight into the club, and the players.

Sheridan has also asked Gary Owers to step up from his role as head of coaching for Argyle's under-18s to work with the senior side. Owers had a spell as the first team coach at Championship club Bristol City last season.

Sheridan told Herald Sport: "There is only one thing on my mind and that's keeping the team in the division.

"The club is too big to go down and it would be a travesty if they did. I will be pushing very hard to keep them in the league."

Argyle have used six loan signings this season but currently there are none at Home Park, which gives Sheridan a lot of scope to explore all the options open to him.

With finances tight at Argyle, that is the route the former Oldham Athletic and Chesterfield manager will have to take to add to his playing resources.

Sheridan is thought to be trying to bring in two new strikers to improve Argyle's poor goalscoring record.

He said: "Hopefully, a new manager coming in might give the lads a lift, but I think we also need a few extra bodies.

"I think I know what type of player we need to stay in this season and, hopefully, win us one or two games. At this moment in time, I'm working very hard to get new faces in."

Sheridan admitted his aim was to make four new recruits for Argyle, and three before the weekend.

He said: "That's not to say the lads who are already here won't be figuring for me. I have told them they are all on an even-keel.

"Hopefully, bringing in a few players will give everyone a lift.

"It will definitely be loans. Luckily for me, there are no loan players here at the moment so it gives me scope to go and get some."

Sheridan's former club Chesterfield put a trio of players on the transfer list last week, including experienced defender Terrell Forbes.

He was recruited by Sheridan from League One outfit Leyton Orient in the summer and has previously played for Yeovil Town.

Also on the transfer list at Chesterfield is striker Scott Boden, 23, and 19-year-old winger Jack Waddle.

Owers, a former player at Sunderland, Bristol City and Notts County, arrived at Home Park in the summer as the number two in the youth set-up to academy manager Kevin Hodges.

Sheridan said: "I played against Gary when he was at Sunderland so I know a bit about him. He's a very good coach.

"He was at Bristol City last season. I would like to get Gary involved a little bit more with the first team, but that will be the only change (to the backroom staff)."

Sheridan was under no illusions about the size of the task he has taken on, with the Pilgrims in 23rd position in League Two after picking up seven points out of a possible 42.

He said: "Hopefully, a different manager and different ideas might help.

"Hopefully, we can all push together and get a positive result on Saturday, first and foremost."

Meanwhile, former Argyle loan signing Alex MacDonald scored two of the goals for Burnley's development squad when they beat Everton under-21s 4-1 yesterday.

MacDonald had been set for a permanent move to Home Park until the sacking of manager Carl Fletcher on January 1.

According to Burnley's official website, MacDonald put in 'an outstanding performance' and 'was the catalyst for many of the Clarets' brightest attacking moments' against Everton.