Plymouth Argyle chief executive Paul Berne has given under-pressure boss Tom Cleverley his backing despite a run of poor results that has seen the club drop into the League One relegation zone.
The Pilgrims’ 2-0 defeat to Mansfield Town on Tuesday marked a third consecutive loss, leaving them with just four wins from 14 league matches under Cleverley. One of those results was a 3-2 reverse against us, a game we led 3-0 in.
The 36-year-old, appointed in June on a three-year deal following relegation from the Championship, is now facing growing scrutiny from fans after a difficult start to life in charge.
We all recognise our very disappointing start to the season.
As a club, we need stability, and Tom Cleverley retains our full backing as Head Coach.
A message from Chief Executive, Paul Berne. 🗣️
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) October 29, 2025
Club Stresses Stability Amid Struggles
Berne, who only took up the chief executive role three weeks ago after serving as a director since 2019, issued a statement reaffirming the club’s belief that Cleverley remains the “right person” for the job.
“We are a quarter of the way into Tom’s first season with us. Whilst results have been disappointing, nothing has changed in terms of Tom being the right person for this club,” said Berne.
He added that Argyle’s recent turbulence, both on and off the pitch, has undermined consistency, something he believes can only be rebuilt with time and continuity.
Injuries have also taken their toll, with Plymouth naming only six substitutes in the defeat to Mansfield, though Berne refused to use that as an excuse.
Cleverley Accepts Pressure as Results Slide
Cleverley, who represented Manchester United and Everton during his playing career, admitted after the Mansfield loss that he cannot rely on goodwill to see him through this difficult period.
“I don’t have nine lives. We need to turn results around really quickly,”he said.
Despite the mounting pressure, Berne remains adamant that stability is key to long-term success.
“I feel that the club has been through an enormous period of instability. We need to regain consistency and therefore success. That will take time, but it’s the right thing for our club and our future,”he added.
Argyle will hope that backing their manager publicly can spark a turnaround — though history suggests the “vote of confidence” can sometimes be a precursor to change.