Plymouth Argyle will find early season developments at Preston and Stoke City more interesting than most: View | OneFootball

Two of the Pilgrims' former managers have already been sacked this season

Such is the case when you gather constant success as a football club over a short period of time, your manager becomes a wanted man by the axe-wielding clubs that sit higher up the pyramid.

Plymouth Argyle have experienced that twice over the past three years, with Ryan Lowe and Steven Schumacher both leaving for supposed better jobs, only for the pair to both find themselves unemployed less than two months into the current campaign.

Schumacher was sacked by Stoke City last week after picking up two wins from the opening five matches of the campaign, while Lowe left Preston North End after just 90 minutes of the season.

With both bosses jumping ship at the earliest opportunity, there won’t have been many tears from anyone at Home Park surrounding the latest updates, with Argyle moving on in another direction with Wayne Rooney at the helm.

Ryan Lowe and Steven Schumacher jump ship after leading Plymouth Argyle to success

Lowe was appointed as Argyle boss in the summer of 2019, as Argyle looked to bounce straight back to League One after suffering relegation the season before under Derek Adams.

Right from the off, the ex-Bury man won over the Home Park masses, with his winning attitude and feel good mindset proving to be contagious as the Green Army got their wind back in their sails after a miserable third tier campaign.

The football was once more a joy to watch, with the attacking style of play seeing the start of an Argyle identity forming, something that very much has an impact on the Greens to this day, with an impetus on front-foot football still prominent at the club.

With promotion secured at the first time of asking, things looked to be going swimmingly upon their return to League One, only for a hasty exit in December 2021 seeing Lowe leave for Preston at the drop of a hat, leaving Argyle in the lurch.

The feeling towards Lowe turned within an instant, with the man who had made the Green Army dream again immediately derided, while Schumacher hung around to take up the mantle.

The perceived loyalty shown to the club as Lowe hastily made his way up to Lancashire saw many at Argyle fall for Schuey two times over, with his commitment to the cause unquestioned as he took his first managerial role in the game.

Lo and behold, two years later Argyle were in a similar state, with Schumacher winning promotion to the Championship with an all-conquering side, before setting sail for Stoke City before the calendar year was out.

Once again, Argyle were left pulling at the coattails of a not-so-loyal boss, one who had been tempted by the glitz and glamour of a club further afield, in a decision that almost undid all the hard work he and his playing staff had put in to get to that point.

But these Pilgrims are made of strong stuff, and despite a failed Ian Foster reign, Argyle maintained their Championship status and lived to fight another day, with Rooney the latest to be trusted with the reins at Home Park.

Meanwhile, in the Potteries, having clearly walked into a poisoned chalice; as Schumacher was given the axe in the most unceremonious of circumstances nine months after his arrival, and will likely join Lowe doing the punditry circles before too long.

Plymouth Argyle ownership continues to get results

While managers of the past continue to be tempted by clubs who may have higher budgets in the division, there is so much that can be said for Simon Hallett and his ownership model at Plymouth Argyle of late, with the results speaking for themselves.

The Pilgrims’ owner meticulously prepared for the arrival of Rooney this summer, with short-term success not the aim of the game, and rather the ability to sustainably grow a football club, with the whole fanbase seemingly jumping onboard.

Despite early doubts over Rooney [pictured] due to a shocking 4-0 thumping on the opening day of the season, there has been a complete buy-in from the supporters, and belief that the football club can thrive if they all pull in the same direction.

They may not have the same financial clout as their divisional rivals, but who they lack in money they make up for in motive, with Home Park a cacophony of noise every time their stars take to the field.

Schumacher and Lowe didn’t realise how good they had it in the West Country; with a group of supporters who are so keen to buy into a togetherness on and off the field, and want to build something special as a group over a prolonged period of time.

That sort of patience is so rarely given in the modern game, as the departing duo have since found out to their peril, and while the pair search for their next opening on the managerial merry go-round, there will likely be the slightest of regrets from both about leaving an aspirational team that has its feet firmly on the ground behind.