SEASON

2009-2010

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MANAGER: Paul Sturrock 2; Paul Mariner.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON: Carl Fletcher.

DEBUTS: Kari Arnason, Onismor Bhasera, Yannick Bolasie, Alan Gow, Damien Johnson, Reda Johnson, Ryan Leonard, Joe Mason, Bondz N'Gala, Bradley Wright-Phillips.

FINAL GAMES: Chris Barker, Ashley Barnes, Yoann Folly, Alan Gow, Damien Johnson, Ryan Leonard, Jamie Mackie, David McNamee.

LOANS: Darcy Blake (Cardiff), James Chester (Man Utd), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas, USA), Richard Eckersley (Burnley), David Gray (Man Utd), Alan Judge (Blackburn), Shane Lowry (Aston Villa), Cillian Sheridan (Celtic), David Stockdale (Fulham).

Last summer seems so long ago. Championship survival by the narrowest of margins heralded the end of an era when Paul Stapleton, probably the most successful chairman in the club’s history, made way for the self-styled ‘New World’. [Click for more]

Last summer seems so long ago. Championship survival by the narrowest of margins heralded the end of an era when Paul Stapleton, probably the most successful chairman in the club’s history, made way for the self-styled ‘New World’. With Sir Roy Gardner in the chair, Keith Todd CBE's hand on the boardroom tiller and the Japanese connection remaining mysteriously behind the scenes, a new day had dawned and the message was loud and clear: to the promised land! To the surprise and delight of many, an audacious bid to be a World Cup Host in 2018 was won and an ambitious five-year plan suggested that major stadium developments were just around the corner.

If the future is rosy, then the harsh realities at today’s Home Park soon kicked in: attendances were down and day-to-day finances a ‘challenge’, but the critical problems were on the pitch. After the previous season’s poor form continued, Home Park hero Paul Mariner was brought in to re-work his magic as Paul Sturrock’s no. 2, but the rot had set in, not helped by a pitch that was all but finished. The old adage ‘never go back’ was never more true for Luggy; from the most successful manager in the club’s history to a lame duck, it was the saddest of endings when at Christmas, Mariner was promoted to the man in full charge of team affairs.

Manager in all but name, the former goal scoring hero gave his all, just as he did 35 years before, but it was not enough. For most, the writing was on the wall from the start of the campaign, and so it proved. After the first six games, the Pilgrims escaped the relegation zone on just one occasion; a long, painful and record-breaking end to six seasons in the Championship. So it’s back to the old Third Division and who knows, maybe the start of that road to the promised land. The end of that pitch is no bad start. [Click for less]