Foster's First Press Conference Highlights
On Monday, new Head Coach Ian Foster, along with Director of Football Neil Dewsnip and CEO Andrew Parkinson, faced a number of members of the press, three days after being appointed at the Argyle helm.
All supporters can watch the whole 32-minute press conference for free on Argyle TV via this link.
Here are some highlights...
Foster on Argyle being the right club: “The club do their due diligence on me as a person, and as a head coach - and then I do the same. I only heard really, really positive things about the ownership; about the board and how they treat their staff; about the feel of the football club in terms of the culture, the environment and how they make the staff families feel, which is really important to me.
“Having experienced it before, I know that it's a really passionate football club with a wonderful fan base. The opportunity to be a head coach in the Championship is not to be sniffed at for any coach. It just ticked every single box, really, for me.
Parkinson on Foster’s appointment: “The process was fast and furious; it was a very extensive, robust process, but Ian was the standout candidate for us. He has got great coaching credentials, but more than that, it's also about being the right person and having the right skillsets. He fits the bill in all regards. We're delighted to have him."
Dewsnip on Foster’s appointment: “He ticks every box. A wonderful person, that shares the values of Argyle. A wonderful coach with potential to improve, and a major asset to attract some of the top young talent in our country, which really excites me."
Foster on working with Neil Dewsnip: “It certainly helps, because Neil and I worked closely together for a number of years at the Football Association. I know how passionate he is; I know how hardworking he is. I know he's got knowledge beyond my years.
“It's always nice, when you're going into a new role, to have a familiar face, somebody who you've known and trusted. It's wonderful to have Neil here and have the support of him.”
Foster on recruitment: “We sat for six, seven hours on Sunday in a recruitment meeting, which was brilliant for me. We're open to all areas of the squad in terms of in terms of strengthening. If we think that a player is available and can come in and make us a better team, then we'll look at that. We're not particularly pinpointing one position at the moment.
“We've highlighted areas of the pitch where we think we can perhaps get stronger, then you've got to marry that with player availability and everything else that comes with recruitment, but we will make further signings throughout the rest of the window. We want to get the right people in, that's the most important thing for us.
“And I say ‘people’ because it's so important that we get the right characters in the building to make sure that the culture and the environment remains the same and makes it stronger, even. We’ll look at the person first, and then the player.”
Foster on Kevin Nancekivell and backroom staff: "Kevin is going to be a great help to me. He was straight on the phone to me on Friday, once we got the deal over the line. I know from the players, I know from the management team and from the board about the wonderful job he does, and how well respected he is within the club and beyond.
"One of the first things everyone wants to ask is who you're bringing in and what you're doing. I said to Andrew and the board initially that it's an opportunity for me to come in and assess everybody. The people here have done wonderful jobs over the last few years, and they should all take credit for that.
"It'd be unfair of me to just come in and say: ‘I've got a better X, Y or Z and these are coming in regardless of what the other people have done.’ I think it's time for me to assess everybody in their current roles, and then if we need to strengthen in certain areas, then I can have the conversation with the owners and see what's best for the players, which is ultimately my priority.
"It's a player-centred approach. If we think we can make the players better and make the boat go faster, then I'll ask the question."
