VICKY FISHER has been appointed as Plymouth Argyle Ladies’ first team coach ahead of the 2020-21 season.
Fisher replaces Marc Bonney, who has stood down from the role this summer.
Manager Dave Leonard said: “We would like to thank Marc for what he has done for the girls.”
Leonard is looking forward to seeing Bodmin-based Fisher, who has an FA ‘B’ Licence, in her new role.
“I think she will do well as she has a wealth of experience,” said Leonard.
Having already lost Leah Burridge, who has returned to Yeovil Town, Argyle have also said farewell to Wales international Helen Bleazard.
Bleazard has decided to take up the post as assistant manager at Ilminster Town.
The popular right-sided player suffered with injuries last season and had a 200-mile round trip every week to play and train in Plymouth.
Leonard said: “I am glad she is staying in the game and she will be missed.”
Also leaving is midfield dynamo Zoe Cunningham, who has joined Buckland Athletic.
Their departures will be a major blow to Argyle, who have also lost highly-rated teenager Beth Everson.
However, the club do have some promising youngsters coming through that they hope they can develop.
Leonard said: “We have some very good youngsters coming through who will take two or three years to develop. We don’t want to push them, we want to let them develop.”
Argyle will begin their preparations for the 2020-21 National next week when they play Callington Town in their opening pre-season friendly.
The club’s development team have already played a pre-season match. They beat Torquay United 5-0 on Sunday at Manadon.
It meant new development team managers Ryan Lawton and Gary Bottomley got off to a winning start.
The pair took over from Rob Bonney, who spent four very successful years looking after the team. The side were only denied promotion due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Argyle, who have lost the services of Leah Johnson, Maddy Leopard and Isla Bromhead, showed they were up for Sunday’s game against an organised Torquay United by attacking from the start and, despite a number of changes in line up from last season, were always in control.
The young Pilgrims took the lead through Lucy Solloway which was added to by the returning Katie Grigg, who had been out of action for some time to make it 2-0.
Argyle then had a bit of good fortune when Torquay conceded an own goal to make it 3-0 at half-time.
Any hopes of a Torquay recovery were dashed when Rosie Shipp knocked in the fourth.
The management team continued to ring the changes and it was left to the impressive Ellie Bishop to knock in the fifth to complete the scoring.
Bottomley said afterwards: “We had a strong start and everyone played well. Torquay were well organised but we proved to be too strong.”
Next up for Argyle’s development team is a visit to newly-formed Saltash United on Sunday at Kinberley Stadium.
Argyle Development squad: Megan Walsh, Katie Grigg, Beth Cowd, Rachel Heron, Rachel Javan, Imogen Crawford, Libby Lawton, Lucy Solloway, Nicola Champion, Rosie Shipp, Ellie Bishop, Holly Wade, Dee Newman, Millie Buist, Maisie Frickelton, Lilly Burton.