Plymouth Argyle will never forget dramatic Carl Fletcher, Bristol Rovers reaction | OneFootball

The Greens boss was axed in remarkable circumstances back on New Year's Day of 2013

Carl Fletcher’s spell as Plymouth Argyle manager will never be forgotten, with the rookie boss steering the ship when things were at their rockiest at Home Park.

Having initially joined as a player back in February 2009, the Welsh international became a mainstay in the Greens’ midfield as their financial issues took them in a stranglehold, before taking over in the dugout in September 2011.

With Peter Reid leaving the Theatre of Greens after relegation to the fourth tier, things were looking bleak for the Pilgrims, with back-to-back relegations and a lack of funds seeing their very existence put into jeopardy.

After avoiding the drop in the first season in charge, things took another turn for the worse in the following campaign, resulting in one of the most dramatic and emotional sackings in football history.

James Brent makes dramatic Carl Fletcher, Plymouth Argyle decision after Bristol Rovers clash

Having stayed up by the skin of their teeth in Fletcher’s first season in charge, Argyle were fairing no better in the 2012/13 campaign, with things too close for comfort at the bottom of the entire EFL.

With just five wins before Christmas, the Greens were hovering just above the drop zone in League Two over the festive period, and had a return of just one win in 12 games heading into the New Year’s Day clash with Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Ground.

Within 25 minutes, the writing was on the wall for another defeat to be etched into the record books, with Joe Anyinsah and Matty Lund putting the hosts two goals to the good, before Conor Hourihane halved the deficit around the hour mark.

With just two points separating themselves and the drop zone, Chairman James Brent had seen enough, and wasted no time in relieving Fletcher of his duties, with his sacking coming just minutes after the final whistle.

A bemused Fletcher was yet to speak to the press before he was given his P45, but despite no longer being employed by the club, still threw himself to the wolves, with an unaware crowd eager to talk about the match at hand.

What the former West Ham United man had to say was a lot more dramatic than analysing matters on the pitch though, as he explained everything through teary eyes.

“James Brent has just done it, that's my last game today so that's me got the sack. We'll have to wait and see what the future brings,” he told the BBC.

"Since I've been down here we've been through a lot, that's football really. I might be a young manager but I know if you don't win games you don't keep your job.

"It's been a tough four years. It's obviously disappointing to end this way but that's life and that's football. It'll be nice to spend some time with the kids and the family and get away from it all.

"The way your life gets overtaken when you're a manager, it's very hard to deal with, and it's been a really good learning curve for me."

For a man who had given his all to the football club, it was quite the way to go, with Fletcher unable to keep his emotions in check during the debrief, having given the Green Army some fond memories along the way despite their constant struggles with their finances.

Anyone at Shrewsbury Town the day he rifled in a late equaliser will always have due cause to celebrate Fletch, while the way he handled himself in unknown territory during his first ever managerial position was testament to his professionalism.

It was something of a baptism of fire, and came crashing down within minutes at the Memorial Ground, with John Sheridan the man chosen to replace him just a week later.

John Sheridan rallies Plymouth Argyle to achieve League Two survival

Whether the recovery job done by Sheridan [pictured] would have been possible under Fletcher is anyone’s guess, but Brent will have felt some vindication for his big decision later in the season, as Argyle once again survived dropping down into non-league by the seat of their pants.

We’re talking Jason Banton. We’re talking Plymouth Argyle one, Exeter City nil. We’re talking five wins in seven. We’re talking Rochdale away. The Sweet sweet smell of survival at Spotland.

Never has a defeat been celebrated more than that April afternoon in Greater Manchester, as now everybody was going to believe them, the Greens were staying up.

At the turn of the year it looked impossible, and even heading into March things were still unlikely, but Sheridan rallied a side that were on their knees, and achieved survival against all odds.

The way Fletcher was dismissed may have been unceremonious to say the least, but that decision may well have saved Plymouth Argyle Football Club in its entirety, with financial oblivion only narrowly averted.