Sheridan eyes Argyle survival

Published Jan. 9, 2013 7:15 a.m. ET

foxsports

Defender Georg Niedermeier has committed his future to Stuttgart for a further two years after signing a new contract.

The 26-year-old, who joined Stuttgart from Bayern Munich in 2009, still had 18 months left to go on his previous deal, but has accepted the club's offer of a contract until 2016.

"I have established myself in the Bundesliga with Stuttgart and the club has a place in my heart," said the defender on vfb.de.

"I would like to grow even more as a leading player and play in Europe with this club.

"I will continue to give all I have got to achieve that in the coming years."

Stuttgart's director of sport, Fredi Bobic, welcomed Niedermeier's decision, saying: "We have managed to tie down another key member of our squad on a long-term deal.

"Georg is a guy whose passion and determination is infectious, which is why he is immensely important to our team."

The 48-year-old arrives at Home Park looking to revive the fortunes of a side that have won just one of their last 16 games and sit second from bottom in League Two.

Sheridan, who was appointed as the successor to Carl Fletcher on Sunday, was quick to point out how much of challenge awaits him during the second half of the season but, despite their poor run of form, the former Republic of Ireland international is confident he can help maintain Argyle's Football League status.

"If we stay in the league it will be like getting a promotion," he said. "It will be very difficult but I don't think it is something we can't achieve.

"It is a massive challenge but people who know me know I love football, I have been in it a long time and have been very fortunate to get a job like this.

"I don't want to let people down and I want to be successful. I don't want to manage in this division and don't want my players playing in this division, I want to look up and better ourselves. That is what I'll try to instil into the players."

Sheridan is keen to make use of the loan window during January and has targeted three new arrivals before Argyle's home game with Morecambe this weekend.

And he believes his knowledge of the lower leagues from his spells in charge of Oldham and Chesterfield will hold him in good stead when it comes to recruiting players to Home Park.

"It is about getting the results but I do know the players and what is required to do well in this division," he said.

"It has worked in the past so hopefully it'll help me to attract one or two players here and if we can attract them then it will make us better."