PLYMOUTH ARGYLE manager Tom Cleverley walked off set as technical issues delayed his post-match interview last night.
The Pilgrims fell 1-0 to Leyton Orient at Home Park, Cleverley’s fourth League One defeat out of four since taking charge.
Argyle have endured a disastrous summer, with former manager Miron Muslic walking out to join Schalke and several key players leaving.
Last night’s match was broadcast on the club’s internal Argyle TV service.
Shortly after the final whistle, Cleverley headed to the studio to perform his post-match interview.
As the former Manchester United star stood wearing a microphone, media staff tried to fix some technical issues.
When the presenter, presumably not realising he was on air, answered his phone, an agitated-looking Cleverley looked like he wanted to leave the studio.
And after about 90 seconds of standing there waiting, the 36-year-old eventually did just that, removing his microphone and walking off set.
Around 30 seconds later the feed cut to black.
Posting a clip of the exchange, an Argyle fan wrote: “I’ve just been sent this by a mate. And I’m not going to lie, it completely epitomises everything that’s wrong with the club. Unprofessional and amateur. Look at Clevs face, the blokes obviously done. He’s seen enough of this s***show, I’m putting money on him walking.”
While a second fumed: “Enough is enough mate. Think all of those miles we travelled to games on the same minibus… we were in the post admin nadir but still a million times more fun than what we’re being served up now.”
Another called it “embarrassing”.
Cleverley has been working with a threadbare squad at Home Park.
The Pilgrims lost the likes of Ryan Hardie, Adam Randell, Maksym Talavierov, Nikola Katic. Mustapha Bundu, Jordan Houghton, Rami Al Hajj and Darko Gyabi from their side that nearly survived in the Championship last term.
Argyle signed several players early on in the transfer window, but few with League One experience.
Cleverley was finally able to bolster his leaky defence by bringing in Alex Mitchell on loan from Charlton on Monday.
That was Argyle’s first acquisition of a player, excluding those previously on trial, since July 4.
The club’s No9 shirt has still not been filled, despite fan favourite Hardie leaving for Wrexham on June 16.
Luca Ashby-Hammond has been filling in for injured first choice Conor Hazard in goal, having scored a comical own goal while on trial with the Greens.
The Pilgrims began their season with a 3-1 home defeat by Barnsley and a 2-0 loss at Bolton.
There was brief respite in the Carabao Cup, as Argyle beat a heavily rotated QPR side 3-2 at Home Park – but it was normal service resumed on Saturday as they lost 3-2 at Lincoln.
Josh Koroma’s 63rd minute goal for Leyton Orient last night consigned the Green Army to yet another defeat.
‘FALLEN SHORT’
When Cleverley did eventually speak to Argyle TV, he was asked whether his side should be doing better than they are.
The former Watford boss did not shy away from the dire situation, saying: “Absolutely, I take full responsibility of that.
“We all know that we’re trying to complete our squad from now to the first of September, and in that period of time it’s my job to pick as many points up as possible, and we’ve not.
“Of course we should be doing better. We shoulder that responsibility, but today was one of those nights where I have to say we’ve done everything we can.
“We’ve just fallen short of a team that right now is a better level than us.”
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