Martyn Starnes is New Chief Executive

PLYMOUTH Argyle have appointed Martyn Starnes as their new Chief Executive.

Martyn, 58, joins the Pilgrims from Championship side Yeovil Town, where he held the same position for five and a half years. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive at Swindon Town.

Martyn will also join the Board of Plymouth Argyle.

Argyle Chairman James Brent said: “My fellow Directors and I are delighted to welcome Martyn to Plymouth Argyle.

“Martyn brings years of experience in running football clubs and has demonstrated that, even for a club which has a much smaller fanbase than Argyle, financial prudence can be combined with league success.

“We are confident that Martyn will leverage the additional revenues anticipated from the new grandstand to support John Sheridan in moving Argyle back up the Football League. It is a measure of Martyn's confidence in Argyle that he has decided to join us from a newly promoted Championship club.

“I look forward to the new season with enthusiasm and excitement.”

A qualified accountant by trade, Martyn was also Chairman of the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust and Chairman of the Yeovil Town Centre of Excellence.

He was responsible for the Glovers’ successful commercial, stadium, finance and football operations, including the Centre of Excellence, planning and executing the club’s overall strategy during their rapid rise through the divisions.

His final season at Huish Park was marked by the Glovers’ promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time, following their 2-1 play-off final win over Brentford.

Yeovil’s remarkable rise was achieved on one of League 1’s lowest playing budgets and an average home crowd of 4,071.

Martyn also oversaw the development of the Glovers’ Community Sports Trust which has generated more than £850,000 since its formation five years ago, latterly in the position of Chairman.

Martyn’s involvement in football throughout his life runs from top to bottom.

A semi-professional player, he later managed Sherborne Town, supervising the completion of a £100,000 ground development and securing a fourfold increase in the club’s turnover. He has also worked as a scout for Stockport County and is currently a Somerset FA Councillor.

Martyn takes up his post at Home Park on Monday, July 8.