Plymouth Argyle are exploring ways to support head coach Wayne Rooney rather than seek out his replacement, according to club owner and chairman Simon Hallett.

During a fans' forum hosted by the Plymouth Argyle Cornish Supporters' Association, Hallett expressed his support for Rooney amidst national media reports suggesting the 39-year-old was 'fighting for his job' ahead of consecutive home games against Oxford United and Swansea City.

The Pilgrims, plagued by injuries, have slipped to 21st place in the Championship following heavy losses to Norwich City (6-1) and Bristol City (4-0) last week. They've managed just one win in their last nine matches, losing five.

Speaking at St Dennis Working Men's Club, Hallett told the fans' forum: "Clearly, we are all under pressure. We are not playing well, we are not doing on the pitch what we wanted us to do.

"So we are all feeling the pressure. Fans are feeling the pressure, the board is feeling the pressure and Wayne is feeling the pressure. What we are going to do is not think about getting rid of him and changing him. We are thinking about how we can support him.

"So there are no conversations going on about replacing Wayne but there are conversations going on about how we can support him to help him become the great coach we think is in there."

Neil Dewsnip, Argyle’s director of football, also expressed his support for manager Rooney at the fans' forum, insisting: "He's incredibly motivated to get Argyle to safety and then onwards and upwards from there.

"He's desperate to help Argyle to be successful. Success is staying in the league, doing a little bit better than that if we can. He talks about being safe four games from the end of the season. There's a thought. That's his own personal goal."

Dewsnip was optimistic about the team's prospects once injured players return, believing "Wayne will be exactly the right head coach for us so we just have to give him the best chance."

Following a comprehensive 90-minute Q&A session at the fan event, owner Hallett explained: "Is he under pressure? Absolutely, we are all under pressure. But there has been no conversation about changing the head coach, none at all. There has been lots of conversation about can we give him the best possible support. We will do that.

"What is it he needs? Do we need a sports psychologist? Do we need a set piece coach? Do we need this, do we need that? What is it around him that is going to best help him succeed? We are looking at any way we can to support him."

Despite a rocky season with four wins at Home Park, five draws, and nine losses, Rooney has managed to keep the Pilgrims just two points clear of the Championship relegation zone.

Dewsnip has spoken out on the quality of Argyle's player recruitment this summer, acknowledging the mixed performance among the new signings. He admitted: "In terms of the last six years we have signed some really good players who have got us to where we currently are, but I guess the question is more about the current crop.

"I think generally we are pleased with who we have signed. We think some have done well, and we think some are maybe struggling a little bit to get going. Part of that might be around injuries, part of that might be about settling in a new environment.

"I would love to tell us all we get every signing right all the time. I'm not so sure there is a football club in the world can say that really.

"What I would say is we are just a third of the way through the season. It might still be a little bit early to make black-and-white judgments on all our signings this year.

Hallett also weighed in, adding: "When things go wrong, and when things go right, we like to review how people have done, how departments have done. We did a big review of the recruitment over the last four or five years, two weeks ago.

"We concluded we had got somewhere between 60 and 70 per cent of our decisions right. That means paying roughly the right price, getting players who have contributed relative to what they cost us.

"By football standards, that is pretty good. I think it's pretty well established that 50-50 is quite often what most clubs get, so getting above that is, I think, doing well. Hopefully we can improve, and we will continue to look for ways of improving but it has been by and large pretty good."