KEVIN NUGENT

Full Name: Kevin Patrick Nugent

Born: 10 April 1969

Came from: Leyton Orient   Went to: Bristol City

First game: 25 March 1992   Last game: 26 September 1995

Appearances: 160 (150/10)   Goals: 37

With new boss Peter Shilton desperate to boost his struggling team's attacking threat as 1991-92 drew to a close, he looked to Leyton Orient to supply what he hoped would be the ammunition to keep Argyle in the second tier. Born in Edmonton in north London, Nugent had come through the youth ranks at Brisbane Road. In seven years at the club between 1985 and 1992, he had made 96 appearances and scored 20 goals, as well as having a loan spell with Cork City in Ireland in 1989. Shilton duly had a £200,000 offer accepted, and Nugent was thrust straight into a relegation dogfight with his new club. However, he broke a bone in his foot in only his second appearance and was sidelined until the final home game of the season, a 3-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers that saw the Pilgrims relegated.

Much maligned by some Argyle fans for his tendency to go long spells without scoring, Nugent nevertheless managed 13 and 17 goals in the following two seasons respectively. His tireless running and strength off the ball also created many more chances for his team-mates, endearing him to many of the Green Army's more sympathetic members.

He initially seemed to have survived Neil Warnock's summer cull in 1995 but, after appearing in the first six matches of 1995-96, all of which were lost, Nugent was dropped. The subsequent 5-0 victory at Bury paved the way for his move to Bristol City. After spells at Cardiff City, Leyton Orient (again) and Swansea City, he hung up his boots and began a career in coaching and football management.

In 2007, he briefly became caretaker-manager of Swansea City following the dismissal of Kenny Jackett. He then returned to Leyton Orient, where he had begun his playing career, initially as youth team manager and later as a coach and assistant manager. In 2009, 2010 and 2014, he was promoted to caretaker-manager following a succession of managerial departures during an unsettled period at Brisbane Road.

In January 2016, Nugent was appointed first team coach at Luton Town before moving to Charlton Athletic six months later. Following the dismissal of Russell Slade, he again took charge as caretaker-manager, having also stepped into the role at Leyton Orient when Slade was dismissed in 2014.

In February 2017, Nugent finally had the opportunity to take charge on a permanent basis when he became manager, or chief coach, at Barnet. The appointment proved short-lived: he was dismissed less than two months later after a winless run of four draws and six defeats.

In August 2017, he was appointed to manage Millwall's under-23 team, a role he continued in for many years. By 2026, he was managing the under-21 Elite Development Squad. During his time at the club, he won the Professional Development League title in 2019-20 and repeated the feat in 2022-23, following it up by securing the National Final with victory over Sheffield United at The Den.