Simon Hallett opens up on big Plymouth Argyle, Neil Dewsnip decision | OneFootball

The Greens have parted ways with their Director of Football after more than five years in the post

Plymouth Argyle Owner Simon Hallett has explained the decision to part ways with Director of Football Neil Dewsnip, following the conclusion of his five-and-a-half-years with the club.

The Devon outfit have wrung the changes with the departure of Wayne Rooney on New Year’s Eve, and Dewsnip now following him out of the exit door at Home Park, having joined the club during their days in League Two.

During his time with the football club, Dewsnip had helped contribute towards two promotions from the fourth tier to the second, with the Pilgrims now fighting for their existence in the Championship in the remaining months of the season.

With former Cercle Brugge boss Miron Muslic appointed last Friday, Argyle now look to start a new era with the Austrian in charge, with Hallett full of praise for Dewsnip as he wishes him farewell.

Simon Hallett issues Neil Dewsnip message as Director of Football departs Plymouth Argyle

While it had been common knowledge that Dewsnip was set to leave the Theatre of Greens, it was today confirmed by Argyle on their official club website, with Hallett offering the following statement following the official confirmation:

“Neil has been an integral figure in our progress ever since he joined the club in 2019.

“He has overseen a transformation on and off the pitch which cannot be underestimated. When he joined, we were in League Two and now we sit today in the Championship and a lot of that is down to the hard work and dedication of Neil.

“We feel it is now the right time to move in a different direction, but I want to personally thank Neil for everything he has done for Argyle. He will be welcome back at Home Park whenever he wishes.”

Argyle went on to wish Dewsnip well later in the piece, before stating that no further comment will be made at this time, with the club in a major stage of transition as we head into 2025.

Neil Dewsnip legacy cannot be forgotten despite tumultuous final 12 months

In many ways, Dewsnip’s role as Director of Football had become untenable at Home Park, with two successive managerial appointments failing to follow on from the groundwork put down by Steven Schumacher before his departure for Stoke City in December 2023.

Both Ian Foster [pictured] and Wayne Rooney failed to make the grade in the South West, with Dewsnip himself having to oversee first-team matters in the final part of last season, as the Pilgrims valiantly stayed up on the final day of the campaign with a 1-0 win over Hull City.

That joy proved to be short-lived though, with the appointment of Rooney proving to be a busted flush, as the former Birmingham City boss failed to get the best out of the players at his disposal, as he left Home Park with the Greens bottom of the second tier.

Nevertheless, Dewsnip was the man who helped to turn the ship around in the first place, with his appointment in August 2019 coming as Argyle found themselves back in the fourth tier, having just been relegated from League One under the management of Derek Adams.

The initial appointment of Ryan Lowe soon put the wheels in motion for another attempt at rising through the leagues, with the former Bury manager earning an immediate return to the third tier, before pushing the Pilgrims on to becoming promotion candidates before his departure in December 2021.

The succession planning at the football club saw Schumacher decide not to follow his close friend to Deepdale, but instead take the reins at Home Park, with a 101-point haul in League One being the pinnacle of recent seasons, before trying to establish themselves as a Championship club right now and in the future.

Having got the Greens to this point, Dewsnip now departs under something of a cloud following the last 12 months at the club, but his contribution to the upwardly mobile Pilgrims cannot be underestimated.

Regardless of the rest, the nerve to take to the dugout for the final six matches of last season, and earn crucial victories against Rotherham, Leicester and Hull to assure Championship survival can never be forgotten, with Argyle able to carry on fighting in the second tier for another season.