by RICK COWDERY

A LITTLE bit of Argyle history will be created in Burslem on Saturday, when the Pilgrims take on Port Vale.

For the first time in the club's 125 years, the game will be watched by an Argyle Director of Football.

John Deehan, who was appointed to the position earlier in the week, will witness the game from the Vale Park stands and, post-match, provide his own reflections on the game to manager Carl Fletcher.

John, 54, has more year's experience in football than Fletch, the second-youngest manager in the Football League, has on the planet.

It is the mix of the young ambition of Fletch and his coaching team of Romain Larrieu and Kevin Nancekivell, and the old wisdom of John that the Argyle Board is hoping will lead to preservation of the club's Football League status.

Carl said: "We are making sure that we don't leave any stone unturned and that we are doing everything in our power to get the right results on a Saturday.

"John won't be doing any coaching or team-selection, or anything like that. It's just another set of eyes for us with a bit of experience.

"If he comes in and we get one thing that he sees [which] helps the team, then it's definitely worthwhile."

Former Norwich City and Wigan Athletic manager John has arrived at Home Park with a recommendation from the man once tipped to fill the Director of Football role himself, Fletch's fellow ex-Bournemouth confidant Sean O'Driscoll.

His appointment was also endorsed by Colin Calderwood, who was manager at Northampton Town when John was Director of Football there.

Deehan has arrived at Home Park with Argyle 22nd in the League Two table, one point above the relegation zone.

"Sean is someone I trust and respect," said Fletch.

"I know [Colin Calderwood] and his assistant at Northampton when [John] was there. I spoke to them and got their opinion on him.

"It's the same with anyone we try to bring into the football club. You ask as many people as you can about them. That's all you can do."

Fletch and his coaches are already in the habit of discussing every aspect of their match preparation and dissection, and will now add John's input to that process.

"I don't think you can have too many opinions," said Fletch. "We don't always agree on everything and, if we see things differently, we're honest.

"We are honest with one another, and I am honest with the players.

"That's one of the biggest things that's missing in football - you ask any player how they want their manager to be and I think they will say: 'I just want him to be honest with me.'

"Everyone is going to have their opinion, and you deal with it. We're not too closed off to dismiss anything.

"At the end of the day, what we decide will be for the best of the football club and the team."