Williamson to let Plymouth caretakers take glory

Bobby Williamson will take his seat in the Plymouth directors' box this afternoon hoping to enjoy the kind of managerial debut that few in his profession can have experienced. A win over rivals Queen's Park Rangers at Home Park would ensure that the former Hibernian manager ends his first match in charge celebrating promotion.

Bobby Williamson will take his seat in the Plymouth directors' box this afternoon hoping to enjoy the kind of managerial debut that few in his profession can have experienced. A win over rivals Queen's Park Rangers at Home Park would ensure that the former Hibernian manager ends his first match in charge celebrating promotion.

Four points ahead of QPR, six in front of third-placed Bristol City, Plymouth's vastly superior goal difference means that victory will guarantee First Division football for the first time since 1992-93. A draw would be enough should Bristol lose to play-off chasing Brighton.

However, Williamson, appointed on Tuesday as Paul Sturrock's successor after a six-week hiatus, has no intention of stealing any glory. He has let Kevin Summerfield and John Blackley, the coaches, pick and prepare the team and the caretaker management pairing will be in the dugout.

It is they who will accept the applause should Argyle achieve the required result, even though the duo will be leaving to join Sturrock at Southampton in the summer.

"The players have worked hard and the coaching staff are getting them organised for Saturday," Williamson said. "I'm trying not to interfere too much.

"The team have proved themselves good enough to go up. I just hope the supporters aren't too nervous because that could transmit to the players."

Brighton and Swindon remain in theoretical contention for automatic promotion - although the play-offs are a more realistic ambition - along with Bristol City and QPR. Victory for Swindon over Oldham today would be enough to guarantee a play-off position.

Meanwhile, Notts County will join relegated Wycombe Wanderers in the Third Division if they lose at home to Port Vale.

Doncaster, already promoted, can seal the Third Division title with victory over York if second-placed Hull lose at home to Huddersfield. Hull will go up if they win, but both sides will be promoted if Huddersfield win and Torquay United lose to Cheltenham Town.

At the bottom, Carlisle face the drop if they lose at Mansfield and Rochdale and Scunthorpe both win. York almost certainly would be relegated if they lose at Belle Vue.