He was then allowed to rejoin Torquay United on a permanent basis in December 1992, thus ending his fourteen-year association with the Pilgrims. He finished his playing career at Plainmoor, scoring 5 goals in 81 appearances before officially retiring in 1997, to focus on coaching. Managerial career Having initially been a player-coach and then youth-team manager at Torquay United, Hodges replaced Eddie May as first-team manager in the summer of 1996. He guided them to the Third Division Play-off Final in 1998, before returning to Home Park that summer to take up the position of Plymouth Argyle manager, replacing Mick Jones. His stint as the club's manager was extremely different from his time as a player. The club were in the bottom division of the Football League, one which it was unaccustomed to, yet rather than bounce back up the club achieved mediocre league positions of thirteenth in 1999 and twelfth in 2000. The beginning of the 2000–01 season saw Hodges having to work with a tight budget and a team that needed rebuilding. After losing six of their first ten league games that season, Hodges' reign was brought to an end, and he was replaced by Paul Sturrock. Following his dismissal, Hodges spent some time scouting for Wolverhampton Wanderers before being appointed as a Football Development Officer for the Somerset FA, a role which he continued to honour after being appointed as manager of Clevedon Town in September 2004. He left in October 2005, with the club top of the Southern League Western Division, to become an assistant manager to Steven Thompson at Football League One club Yeovil Town. He remained at Huish Park until the appointment of Russell Slade as the club's manager, and then joined Bristol Rovers in October 2006 as the club's youth-team manager. Hodges spell with them lasted until June 2008 when he was released from his contract. The decision was made after the club decided to withdraw its youth team from the Football Combination. Hodges returned to Plymouth Argyle again in October 2008 to work as a part-time coach for the club's Football in the Community Trust project. In September 2010, he assumed responsibility for coaching Argyle's under 18's. He left his role as Plymouth Argyle's academy director in November 2019. References External links Argyle Review 1960 births Living people People from Bridport Footballers from Dorset English footballers English Football League players Plymouth Argyle