Alex Russell to return as Player/Coach ?

[CP Gull]

... it seems there is a possibility that this may happen.

I had heard this morning that he may be coming back to us in that capacity - but that was supposedly to work with Ian Baraclough!!!

It appears from this piece in tomorrow's WMN though that he may still end up working with the new man ...

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Grecian-su ... story.html

[andygull]

Cheers for that CP but we all know what happens with speculation! Would be great to get Russell back but for now i'm just getting my head round the Martin Ling thing.

[Fonda]

Ling's a brave man to agree to this. Perhaps he was the only one prepared to have his 'assistant' chosen for him? A fans favourite in the number 2 position just adds more pressure to the top man. As soon as we suffer a run of poor results there will be calls for Aggy's promotion...

[mlw]

Much as many of us would love to see Alex Russell back at Plainmoor it is more important that the new manager has somebody he is comfortable with rather than someone foisted on him by the club. If that person is Russell thats great - if he prefers his own man then we should accept that. Its the norm these days that the incoming manager picks his own people - usually those they have worked with before.

[jonnyfive]

Yes please Aggy!

Aside from the fact that he could still justify some time on the pitch (Yeovil saw fit to sign him 5 months ago), Alex must surely have skills and nous to improve our squad in a coaching capacity. Young Eunan, for instance, could learn a lot about the art of the central midfielder, and accelerate his already impressive development.

[Andovergull]

A senior pro like Aggy or Hargreaves can only benefit the team and the youngsters

[jocktheknife]

No way.......won't happen.

He's sure to bring his own team in.

[SuperNickyWroe]

No way.......won't happen.

He's sure to bring his own team in.

and so he should.

if he has taken the job and agreed to that then he must be mad.

[Fonda]

and so he should.

if he has taken the job and agreed to that then he must be mad.

Might explain why he got it though.

[SuperNickyWroe]

Might explain why he got it though.

it might shane. but he'd still be mad! =D

[CP Gull]

I wouldn't rule it out.

Let's face it, at the very beginning the Board (Bill Phillips I believe) gave an interview on the BBC and he stated that ideally they would like an experienced Manager with perhaps a Player/Coach if they could afford it. Of course if that is the only option available to him (Ling) he may have his own man in mind, but as others have suggested a lot will depend on whether Aggy as Player/Coach was "part of the deal".

[taunton_gull]

Much as I'd like to see Aggy return to the club at some point in the future in some ways I hope this doesn't happen for ML's sake. Having an assistant forced upon you, someone who you've never worked with before is a massive gamble. As Fonda pointed out a few dodgy results and some fans may be calling for AR to replace him if this happens. I'd much rather Ling brought in an assistant of his own choosing. I would be surprised if the board made this a condition of the offer as there is a big risk it might not work out. If ML took the job and it was a condition perhaps it suggests how badly he needed a job... but we'll wait and see. Although rated by Yeovil I don't really know how much AR will have left in his legs. A lot of time has passed since his glory days here.

[Colorado Gull]

Just been informed by a very good source that Aggy will be Player Coach, but I'm sure this story will all come out tomorrow.

[Jeff]

I'd heard similar myself, which is what I was alluding too on the Martin Ling thread when I said that his backroom staff might bring some positives

[PlainmoorRoar]

Just been informed by a very good source that Aggy will be Player Coach, but I'm sure this story will all come out tomorrow.

If this is the case, im scared thats why Ling got the job!