BRETT STROUD feels he has left Plymouth Argaum in a good place and he is confident the club can continue their progress next season under new head coach Dean Avery.
Stroud decided to step down from the role of head coach at the end of the season due to work and family commitments.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” admitted the former Plymouth Albion flanker. “As it is a great club and I have really enjoyed it.
“But I have a lot of stuff going on with my kids and their football. I’m travelling all over the place at the moment with my daughter’s football as she is playing for the county and I also run my boy’s team.
“I have just got a really busy life with work and the kids and the family has to take priority, but Argaum is a club I will always still be interested in.
“It is a bit sad really, but I think I have left them in good stead.
“They brought me in to do a job and I think I have done quite well in terms that we started off with just 12 players and by the end had 48 signed on.”
After a slow start to the season, Argaum did really pick up and ended up with nine league wins and beat the likes South Molton, New Cross and Exeter Athletic.
“I said it time and time again, if I could have picked the 15 or 20 match-day squad I wanted to each week I think we would have been in with a shout of the top three or certainly be up near the top,” said Stroud.
“We proved that after Christmas when we took a few scalps of sides in the top four.
“I think we did surprise quite a few in the league with what we did.
“It is crucial the club build on it now and I think they can – and the players believe that.
“Players like Tommy Holliday and Jake Turfery have gone elsewhere, but are real Argaum lads and have come back and really enjoyed it.
“From the conversations I have had most of the squad is going to stay and the guy who is coming in I know really well and he will be good.
“I think the club is in a good place now whereas previously they were struggling.”
He added: “I did say to the club that I am very fond of them and it is a club I will go up and support when I have a Saturday afternoon off.
“There are certain clubs that leave a stamp on you.
“I think Argaum are a club that no matter what you will always be welcomed back. They are a club that still have the true rugby values. They are a proper old school rugby club.”
Argaum officially confirmed Avery’s appointment on Tuesday night. Stroud had previously spoken to him about the role.
Avery has plenty of experience having captained Devon and played for Newton Abbot and Brixham, having started out with Plymouth Barbarians and Plymouth Albion’s development side.