CARL Fletcher says he has no immediate plans to return to first-team management following his baptism of fire at Plymouth Argyle.

Fletcher, appointed Cherries youth team boss in January, cut his teeth in the Home Park hot seat as the Pilgrims battled to stay in the Football League.

Promoted to caretaker-manager following Peter Reid’s dismissal in September 2011, Fletcher steered Argyle to safety in his first season at the helm.

But against a backdrop of financial uncertainty, Fletcher, twice voted player of the year at Plymouth, parted company with the club following a 2-1 defeat by Bristol Rovers on New Year’s Day 2013.

Capped 36 times by Wales, the former West Ham and Crystal Palace star made six appearances for Barnet in the Conference before returning to Dean Court 10 months ago.

He told the Daily Echo: “I was thrown in at Plymouth and, in an ideal world, probably would have done it the other way round and started with a youth team job.

“But I have tried to learn from every experience. I have enjoyed the good bits and learned to see what to do differently from the bad bits.

“Even though it was tough with all the money issues and such like, I had three good years as a player at Plymouth. I felt it needed someone to get hold of it to try to take it in the right direction. We avoided relegation and although there was a lot of stress, it was a real high point to get safe.

“I was never naive enough to think I’d have an extended spell on the strength of eight months as manager and three years as a player. If you don’t get positive results, you don’t keep your job.

“Losing my job was another experience and you probably learn more through bad times than you do good. I enjoyed management and would like to go back into it one day. But there is a time and a place.

“It takes over your life and you have to weigh up your quality of life. I have a family and three young daughters. I am happy with where I am, the club is doing well, the youth team is doing well and we have a good link with all the teams and coaches.”

  • See today's Daily Echo for a feature with Carl Fletcher on the Cherries youth set up.