Pilgrims prepared as usual for their Cup tie

HUNT FOR MANAGER HAS HAD NO IMPACT ON SUTTON PREPARATION

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

DIRECTOR of football Neil Dewsnip has insisted the search for a new Plymouth Argyle head coach has not been any distraction for the FA Cup third-round tie against League Two strugglers Sutton United at Home Park tomorrow.

The Pilgrims’ squad have also had to contend with the departure of talented on-loan midfielder Finn Azaz, who completed his £2.5 million transfer from Aston Villa to Middlesbrough this afternoon on a four and-a-half year contract.

Dewsnip and long-serving coach Kevin Nancekivell have continued to take interim charge of first-team duties this week after four games in 10 days over the Christmas period as the club have worked to appoint a successor to Steven Schumacher.

“We have been okay,” said Dewsnip. “Kevin Nancekivell, Sam Morcom (lead performance analyst), all the other staff, have done what they always do. I haven’t missed any activities on the field so we have prepared as we always would do really. Touch wood that has gone okay.”

There is a gap of 53 league positions between Argyle, who are 18th in the Championship, and Sutton, who are second-bottom of League Two. They have Jason Goodliffe, a former player at the club, in temporary charge after the dismissal of manager Matt Gray shortly before Christmas.