What next forThe Rovers?

With the club in limbo it is torture for fans of Tranmere as they don’t know which avenue the club will be taking next.

The primary concern for the fans and surely for the whole football club is the future of Ronnie Moore. After two mediocre seasons with The Rovers he has progressed the club from where it was when Brian Little left it and has built up a squad which, on paper, looks like it is capable of gaining promotion to the Championship. These are encouraging signs from a manager. However, with the squad looking so strong on paper we should really be thinking about planning for a season in the Championship rather than yet another season in League One. The injuries which the squad sustained will not have helped Ronnie’s cause. First it was Davies, a revolution to the squad. He was ruled out for the remaiof the season in September. Then, on boxing day Chris Shuker was ruled out. This time was also for the remainder for the season. These players did come back before the end of the season but they didn’t establish any valuable form until the season was too long gone and the dream of playing at the Madjeski Stadium the following season was over. With out any service to the strikers, it would take any squad time to adjust and to assme other methods of supplying goals, but, with a squad the size of Tranmere’s this blow was cripling. Whether or not the powers that be at the club think Ronnie is to continue his good work, or whether they think that it is time for someone else to come in, preparation needs to start pretty soon for the next season if we are too achieve what this club wants, so this matter needs to be sorted out soon.

If there is to be a different manager to come in then I am sure that there would be a few faces leaving Prenton Park, which would require new players and ultimately new funds. This could prove a stumbleing block without the investment which has been widely talked about, but not verified by the club.


Next, there is the concern about Peter Shirliff. If Ronnie is to stay but the club take time deliberating over the matter then Peter Shitliff might take up a contract else where which would leave Ronnie with yet another assistant manager. This would not be good for the stability of the club.


Then, there are the players who are out of contract. One of the plus points this season has been the functioning of our midfield. In a few months there will be three of the four players who started in midfield on the forst game of the season out of contract, Steve Dabies, Stephen Jennings and Paul McLaren. Both Davies and McLaren have drawn interest from else where and could be on there way. This would mean that the spin of our team and our creative engine will need to be replaced for next seasin. Yet more rebuilding.

In defence there is Robbie Stockdale who has been solid throughout the two years. He is out of contract. He is the forst permanent Right Back we have found since the departure of Ryan Taylor to Wigan. To lose him could me a big search for a Right Back. This could spell more expendatures to replace him with some one of similar ability. Versatile player Shane Sherriff has been a valuable player in the past two seasons playing all across the back four and across the middle four. This alone has shown some committment and would mean that losing our once club captain would be a hindrance to next season. Then there is Mike Jones who is out of contract along with John Mullin. These two players have not really featured this season but have given reassurance to both the fans and the manager that there is some degree of depth in the squad to fall back on when needed. These two would hve to be replaced in some way to keep that depth int he squad.

Although it has been brief, this article has illustrated how key this next week is with regards to the clubs future. The longer that players and coaches are kept in limbo, the more likely they are to go and seek employment else where which would leave Tranmere Rovers having to rebuild and further delay their transition to the Championship.