Gaffer's Dugout Debut

RYAN Lowe cannot wait to get back into the dugout as his side prepare to face Paul Wotton’s Truro City in our opening pre-season friendly at Treyew Road this evening.

The Argyle manager takes charge of a Pilgrims side for the first time against a Truro team that also has a new boss following the appointment last week of Wotton, a legendary former Pilgrim player and, most recently, Argyle's assistant manager up to the end of last season.

“I’m looking forward to just the game first and foremost,” said Ryan. “Truro, we know, will be a difficult game for us because of the standards and the levels, which is fine; we respect that; that’s not a problem.”

Although the game is Ryan’s Argyle debut, he is less concerned with the scoreline at the end of 90 minutes, seeing it as more an exercise in fitness for his side.

“The most important thing is we get some minutes and volume in the legs,” he said. “We’ll be up for it, ready. We’ll probably get two teams out there to get 45 minutes in their legs and see where we go from there.

“I’m looking forward to all the pre-season games, we have got a lot of local ones and then a big one here – we will have one over in Spain, also – so we are looking forward it.”

Paul Wotton is held in the highest regard at Argyle as a player and Lowe recognises the test that lies ahead for his new-look Greens.

He said: “I’ve come up against Paul many times during my career. He has done justice for this club and done really well over the years. I’m sure he’ll have his lads up for it, but, again, we are looking forward to an exciting game.”

Tuesday’s encounter with the White Tigers may not be the last contact we have over the season, as Ryan admitted there could be an opportunity for Argyle’s younger players to join the Cornish Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division South outfit on loan to enhance their development away from Home Park.

“I’ll speak to Paul,” he said. “If there are players he likes, obviously he’s worked with a lot of them and probably knows them better than me.

“If there are a couple of youngsters he wants to take out on loan, to gain some experience and work with him, then great – I’ll have a chat with him.”