LIVING Argyle legend Paul Mariner is set to rejoin the Pilgrims.

Argyle chairman Sir Roy Gardner today announced the impending return of a true Green hero to Home Park.

"On behalf of the Plymouth Argyle board, I am pleased to announce that we hope to confirm soon the appointment of Paul Mariner as Head Coach, working for the manager, Paul Sturrock," said Sir Roy.

"Paul Mariner is not only an Argyle legend, but has established himself as a highly respected and leading coach in American Major League Soccer and internationally, including in Japan.

"He will bring his own style and a wealth of experience to the club, supporting the development of the football side of the club with Paul Sturrock.

"Paul Sturrock is already charged with working to complete the review of all aspects of the football side of the club, including: coaching; training facilities; the scouting system; medical and physiotherapy; and youth football.

"He will now be supported in this work by Paul Mariner."

Paul Mariner has been based as a coach in the USA for the past seven years, most latterly as number two to former Scotland and Liverpool star Steve Nicol at crack MSL outfit New England Revolution.

He was invited to Plymouth back in August by Argyle Executive Director Keith Todd - who also brokered the deal to bring him back to Home Park - to support the bid by Devon and Cornwall, with Plymouth at its heart, to become a host city for the 2018 World Cup.

Sir Roy continued: "The board of Plymouth Argyle are appreciative of the co-operation that New England Revolution have shown in releasing Paul Mariner.

"The two clubs have agreed a first step of a potential ongoing relationship with a plan that a number of the New England Revolution younger stars will join Plymouth for a few weeks for joint-training sessions later in the season.

"This is an appointment which will cause a tingle to run down the spine of any Pilgrim.

"Paul Mariner represents a past, present and future that is the very essence of what Argyle should be about: a beloved ex-player who knows and understands the Greens and its fans, who has carved out a post-playing career as a respected coach and who now passionately wants to put something back into his former club."

A Media conference is planned be held in the Board Room at Home Park, at 2.30pm on Friday, October 23, to introduce Paul Mariner.

Until then, there will be no further comment by anyone at the club regarding this matter.

For more on this story, see:

http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=39678&pcid=115