MARINER IN LINE TO BE NEW NUMBER TWO

PLYMOUTH Argyle are tracking former Pilgrims legend Paul Mariner in an attempt to lure him to Home Park as assistant manager.

It is believed Mariner, 56, has not yet committed himself one way or the other to the role, which could see the ex-international striker run the Championship team with current boss Paul Sturrock.

But The Herald understands Argyle are very interested in hooking Mariner (pictured right) , who has just left Plymouth after promoting the city's World Cup bid.

National newspapers claimed yesterday Mariner's arrival as assistant manager was virtually a done deal.

However, Herald Sport believes one or two issues between the two parties need to be resolved before an agreement can be finalised.

Whether those issues involve Mariner's contract with the club remains to be seen.

Mariner himself, who jetted over to Plymouth from the United States to promote the city's World Cup bid, said he would not rule out returning to England to manage.

He added, when asked about returning to England during a press conference, he had never been given a chance to pursue a managerial career in England.

Speculation that Mariner was on his way to Argyle as Sturrock's assistant was heightened when he spent eight hours at the Pilgrims boss' house after flying in from the United States.

While the conversation between the two former internationals could have been purely about their careers, it is not impossible Mariner was being briefed about Argyle as a club and the sort of players he would have at his disposal.

Mariner is currently assistant coach to former Liverpool and Scotland star Steve Nicol at American Major League Soccer side New England Revolution.

He is thought to have returned to America, but admitted this week he would consider any coaching offers in the future.

"I have been asked many times whether I would like to work in England but I have never had the opportunity," said Mariner, who scored the goal against Hungary which qualified England for the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

"When the opportunity comes along, I will make that decision.

"At the present moment, I have got a couple of things in the States that are different to the MLS and they are on the table."

Nobody was available at Argyle for comment.

Argyle's current assistant manager is Kevin Summerfield.