Dismissal hard on lan Foster but Argyle had to act now

PLYMOUTH Argyle have got nearly all of their decisions right over recent times, hence the reason they are in the Championship now after rising up from League Two, but the appointment of Ian Foster as head coach proved to be wrong, and they could pay a high price for it.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

The Pilgrims are faced with the prospect of a return back to League One after only one season after Foster could only lead them to 12 points from 14 games, and a run of five consecutive defeats at Home Park without scoring a goal in any of them. Simon Hallett has always preached the importance of stability and considered decision making during his highly successful time as chairman and owner of the club, and kneejerk reactions are not in his nature.

So Argyle probably stuck with Foster for a little longer than a lot of clubs would have done in their position, in the hope he could turn results around.

However, with their Championship status now in very real jeopardy, Hallett probably had to go against his instincts to avoid short-term decisions and make the change.

When it came, Argyle moved quickly. A report by the Daily Telegraph’s John Percy that Foster was ‘facing the sack’ appeared online at 6.59pm yesterday, a couple of hours after the 1-0 defeat by Bristol City at Easter Monday.

Less than four hours later, an official statement was released by the club, confirming that Foster had been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.

There will be a considerable financial hit for Argyle to take given that the former England under-20s head coach signed a three-and-ahalf-year contract in early January.

But a new very lucrative TV deal kicks in next season and the Pilgrims would receive vast sums of money more in the Championship than in League One, so it is clearly a step the club felt they had to take.