Plymouth Argyle have platform to build from after staying up, says Neil Dewsnip

Director of football Neil Dewsnip admitted Plymouth Argyle staying up in the Championship this season felt even better than when they won the League One title last term with 101 points.

The Pilgrims were on a worrying downward spiral when head coach Ian Foster was sacked after a 1-0 Easter Monday defeat by Bristol City, with Dewsnip and first team coach Kevin Nancekivell put in temporary charge for the final six fixtures.

Argyle went on to pick up 10 points over that period of time and finished the campaign in 21st position, one point above relegated Birmingham City in 22nd, as they beat Hull City 1-0 to spark scenes of wild celebration at Home Park.

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Dewsnip said: "It means we can continue what we started. I think this is five years from League Two to a second year in the Championship. It hopefully will mean that the budget can be bigger next year - I don't know whether that will be the case but I hope so - and it means we can develop the plans we would like to do.

"It would have been so much harder to try and do those things from League One. I'm relieved, and drained. I'm just like 'Wow'."

Now the season has ended, and on a high note, the search for a new head coach will become the focus of attention for club officials, including Dewsnip, but it is far from being the only item on the agenda for the summer.

He said: "We have got some really big issues. We have got a head coach to find. We have had lots of applications. That process will start, I believe, on Tuesday because I have just seen something in my diary already.

"We will be at that straight away. I don't know the list before you ask me. Sorry. But I'm intrigued to know who's on the list. They have kept it well away from me and Nance because we have been busy obviously working with the team."

Dewsnip continued: "We will need to make some signings of course, one or two contracts need renewing, so there is a lot of big issues to do. One or two staff members as well to add I would think in there as well."

The euphoria around Home Park at Argyle retaining their Championship status came 12 months after they were celebrating a memorable League One title triumph under former manager Steven Schumacher.

Dewsnip said: "I don't want for one second want to belittle what happened last year. That was amazing, and we should applaud that achievement. It was fantastic and the people concerned, well played all of them, but this feels even better.

"It gives us a platform to drive forward as a football club and that's what we want to do. We don't want to be sitting around the bottom of the Championship, we want to go higher, and I'm saying that with massive respect.

"It is an incredibly difficult league. If the fans didn't realise that I'm sure they do now. We set out with a goal right at the start that hasn't changed all the way through. We said if we survived by goal difference, or one point, we would be incredibly pleased. Well, we did it, and it feels marvellous."

Argyle came out on top against Hull, whose play-off hopes were dashed by West Bromwich Albion winning 3-0 at home to Preston North End, after a 40th minute goal from Joe Edwards, who scored with a header from a Callum Wright cross.

When Birmingham took a 1-0 lead against Norwich early in the second half of their game at St Andrew's, Argyle knew they could not afford to concede an equaliser or they would be faced with the very real prospect of relegation.

Dewsnip, who watched the action unfold from the Argyle technical area, was not caught up in all the tension around the Theatre of Greens.

He said: said: "I'm going to sound really boring, I apologise, but your focus is completely on the game. I did know Birmingham were winning, someone had whispered in my ear, but I was too focused, as Nance was, on stopping Hull scoring, and that just completely makes you concentrate like crazy. It's incredibly draining - it's hard work."

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