Plymouth Argyle hero Kevin Nancekivell is in line to be given the freedom of the city. The Pilgrims’ first team coach - who has stepped up to be the team’s caretaker manager five times in the past 12 years - has been recommended for the honour alongside former city MPs Sir Gary Streeter and Linda Gilroy.

Councillors will vote to make all three honorary freemen at a special extraordinary general meeting of Plymouth City Council on Monday, January 27. The three are being recognised for their outstanding contribution to Britain’s Ocean City. A Plymouth City Council document said councillors will vote on a resolution to create the new honorary freemen.

They will be asked to consider, and if thought fit, pass the resolution to confer the freedom of the city on Mr Streeter Mrs Gilroy and Mr Nancekivell “as an expression of the admiration of the citizens of Plymouth for their achievements in the service of this city and in recognition of their outstanding leadership, distinguished contributions to public life and sporting excellence and lasting impact on our community”

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Mr Nancekivell made six appearances for Argyle as a midfielder in the 2001/2 season but is best known as a long serving coach. The 53-year-old first joined the coaching set-up in 2005 and became first team coach in 2010.

He became caretaker manager for the first time in 2013 after the dismissal of Carl Fletcher. After a brief spell at Torquay United he was back at Home Park in 2015 and became caretaker boss again in 2019 after Derek Adams was given his marching orders.

Barnstaple-born Mr Nancekivell was again given the stand-in job in charge of the team in 2023, after Steven Schumacher left, sharing it with Neil Dewsnip. The pair were again in the hot seat after Ian Foster was dismissed in April that season, steering the club to Championship survival.

Mr Nancekivell took caretaker duties at Home Park for the fifth time when Wayne Rooney left by mutual consent this year, this time sharing with club captain Joe Edwards and seeing Argyle beat Premier League Brentford away in the FA Cup. Following the appointment of Miron Muslic, Mr Nancekivell has been retained on the coaching staff.

Mr Streeter was the Tory MP for South West Devon from 1997 until stepping down at last year’s general election. He had previously been MP for Plymouth Sutton for five years, his entire parliamentary career making him the all-time longest serving MP for Devon.

The Gosport-born 69-year-old served as shadow secretary of state for international development from 1998 to 2001 and as parliamentary secretary to the Lord Chancellor’s department from 1996 to 1997. Prior to his career with the Conservatives, he worked as a lawyer in Plymouth and was a member of the Social Democratic Party. He lives in Plympton.

Mrs Gilroy was Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton from 1997 until being defeated by the Tories’ Oliver Colvile in the 2010 general election. The 75-year-old, originally from Scotland, was selected for Labour from an all-women shortlist. Mrs Gilroy lives in Sutton Harbour.

Councils can confer the freedom of the city under the Local Government Act 1972, It needs a resolution of the council passed by not less than two thirds of the councillors voting at a meeting specially convened for the purpose.

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