SWA: Hi Barrie. First question then- Tranmere was your first club outside of Scotland. How did the move come about?

Well, I actually should have gone to Liverpool really. A few years earlier, when I was at Dunfermline, Shankly offered 70k for me. They denied the offer had come in of course, but it happened- the chairman wanted 100k though so turned it down.
As always happens, I ended up going to Aberdeen for only 40k in the end.

But I’d lost a yard of pace after a back injury, and never really got started at Aberdeen. Our manager at the time got talking to Yeatsy, think it was at a Preston game, Dave Russell might have been involved too.

I ended up coming down for a chat, so I turned up with an overnight bag. Funny thing was they asked me to stay on for a week, so there’s me sat there with one change of clothes and one pair of pants, I had to go and buy a load of new stuff!

They ended up offering me a contract- everyone at Tranmere was on a flat 35 a week at that time, but I managed to get 60 a week. I was only 27 so I think it was a pretty good deal for both parties.

SWA: The season you were relegated, Yeats was sacked and John King promoted to manager. He couldn’t keep Rovers up, but next season you were promoted. King is a legend in many fans eyes. What were your impressions of the man?

I liked him as a person. But I’ll be honest with you, when he used to tell those stories, I don’t know… ‘We’re going to get in this boat’ he’d say. ‘But if the going gets tough, we’re going to have to grab these oars…’ I just used to think ‘what is he on about!’ I didn’t have time for all of that.

There wasn’t much need for management and tactics then anyway. A group of us played nearly every game that promotion season. I only missed two games and that was only because my registration didn’t come back in time. We knew each other’s game so well. I think it’s a bit unfair managers these days getting the sack for losing the dressing room and the like.

SWA: Two other players in that squad were former Rovers’ managers Ray Mathias and Ronnie Moore. Could you have seen either of them going on to manage the club back when you were playing together?

Yeah I guess so. In hindsight I think Ray was always the more likely, leadership-wise. He was a quiet fella, quite a gentleman. Ronnie was always more boisterous! I’d have thought Ray would have made a better manager, he was calm and collected.

SWA: You attended the recent 125 year celebrations. What was that like?

It was great, they really looked after us. There weren’t that many people from my time there actually- quite a few were a bit older than me. Dickie (Johnson) was there, and Steve (Peplow) and Bobby (Tynan).

They laid on a buffet upstairs, then we had the pitch walkaround. We all watched the match and then there was more food laid on afterwards. It was really nice. Good to catch up with some familiar faces.

SWA: You played with some greats in your time. Who were the best players you played with and against?

Now you’re asking. The best player I played with… probably a lad called Alex Edwards, wide right player. He had everything- dribbling, crossing. At Rovers, probably Tynan and Pep.

Against, I’d say Pele, Georgie Best- I played against him while at Aberdeen and we beat United 4-1, make sure you print that! I think I scored a diving header in that game. Eusebio too, of course. Hardest player I ever came up against was a big centre half at Celtic called George O’Neill, he was a tough fella.

SWA: What was the best goal you scored for Rovers?

Oh, it was against Torquay at the cowshed end. I’ll never forget Pep’s face. He’d just gone off and was sitting on the bench. We used to have this corner routine- Bobby would feint a run to the near post- he was a great header of the ball- and then would run back to the centre of the goal, and I’d drive the ball in to him. Well, this time, the centre half gets up and bam! The ball comes straight back to me.

Quick as a flash, I hit it back in and it screams into the top corner off the outside of my right foot. I looked straight over at Pep and just said, ‘how bout that eh?’ You should have seen him, haha.

Possibly the greatest goal ever seen at Tranmere. People used to ask me, did you mean it? I’d say course I meant it. Did I hell, complete fluke! We won that game 7-1, I scored another in that game too, but that one was all people ever asked me about.

SWA: The truth’s out there now Barrie! What were the funniest moments you remember?

There were some funny times. I used to love training, but some of the lads hated it. Peplow was a terrible trainer. There was a pre-season, and we were getting worked really hard. Anyway, we’re running through these woods, knackered all of us. All of a sudden I turn to Bobby and say ‘Hey, look at him’. And there’s Pep, sitting under a tree smoking a fag. I says ‘what you doing?’ And he just turns to me, shakes his head and says ‘too much for me’.

Another time Kingy’s giving a team talk at half time, and says ‘hang on, where’s Pep?’ And then we notice there’s smoke coming from under the toilet door, he’s only gone off and snuck in a quick fag.

Funniest thing in a game was a time when Pep was contesting a throw in with this fella. Big fella he was. They both grabbed the ball, and the ref come over and signalled it was their ball. It was never their throw in a million years. Well, Pep gets hold of the ball and half volleys it straight at their player, right in the face. I’ve never seen him run so fast!

There was one reporter who wrote a story about me back in Scotland. I’ve still got it here [shows clipping from scrapbook] ‘Mitchell has all the grace and elegance of a frightened penguin’.

I wouldn’t mind but I scored two in that game as well!

SWA: What do you make of the current situation at Rovers?

Well you have to bear in mind we went down to division 4 while I was there, though we got promoted the next year. It’s tricky- how do you get investment into a club? Like I said before, everyone was on the same wage when I played. Wages are much higher now.
SWA: That’s true. Do you think the standard is similar to when you were here?

I don’t think foreign players coming in has made much difference at this level. In our time the Scots coming in was the foreign invasion. Every club had one or two. It’s more of a lifestyle thing. In my day we played football day and night. These days there’s too many distractions, kids spend all there time playing computers. Football was all we had, maybe that makes a difference.

SWA: Speaking of foreign players, you became one yourself when you made the move to Canada to play for Vancouver Whitecaps. How did that come about?

Well in those days, a lot of players had started going to America in the summer to earn a bit of extra money and keep fit for the start of the next season.

I was coming back from a cartilage injury and got a call from Toronto saying they wanted me for the summer. I told Kingy that if he let me go over to Canada I could come back fit as a fiddle.

So I sign for Toronto, and a few days later get a call from Vancouver, saying I was on waivers (transfer list in Canada).

God knows what happened, maybe they signed too many foreigners or something. Anyway they asked me if I’d like to go there, so I thought, yeah why not. It was a much nicer city than Toronto, some good players.

It was a semi pro league, there was me and a dutch fella, and most of the rest of the lads were semi pro’s who worked another job in the day and trained nights.

The first year I won the player of the year award. The second year I went back, they’d got a German manager in who didn’t want me there. If I’d have been a white Pele he wouldn’t have liked me.

So in the end I got on the phone to Pep and Bobby, who were playing over in Chicago, and went to see them for a bit of a holiday!

SWA: Final question then- why did you end up leaving Rovers?

The season my contract finished I played something like 43 out of 46 games. I came back after the summer in Vancouver for contract talks. I said to Kingy, ‘you know that if you don’t give me the same or more I can leave.’ So Kingy asked me where I was going to go, I said Preston.

In the end I came up with a compromise, Kingy liked the contract, I wanted it, but when Kingy went to the directors with it they wouldn’t have it.

I was disappointed I wasn’t going to have another crack at Division 3. These days a lot of players follow the money. But loyalty doesn’t do any harm- theoretically Preston was a bigger club but I wouldn’t have left.

I loved the club, couldn’t believe it. We had a great team with Pep wide right, myself and Bobby in the middle. If I’d have only played ten games the previous season I’d have understood. But these things happen in football.

SWA: Thanks a lot for speaking to us Barrie, some great memories there.

No problem, it’s been a pleasure.

Super White Army

With six of Tranmere’s out of contract players having been offered new deals, and six released, Parry claims he will be looking to build around the spine of the team already contracted for next year.

He said: “We are looking at players with experience, in their mid 20s, and also some younger players.

“We have got quite a good spine here- Goodison and Taylor at the back, Mahon and McLaren in midfield and Tomas-Moore and Gornell up front.”

Parry also confirmed he will be sticking with the 4-3-3 system that proved successful in avoiding relegation last season.

He added: “the current players are comfortable with it and we’ll bring in players that are hungry, winners and fighters.”

One player already approached is Joss Labadie, who returned to parent club West Bromwich Albion following his impressive loan spell only to find he was being released.

A statement on WBA’s official website read: “Albion have confirmed they are not taking up the further year’s option on Joss Labadie’s contract.

“The 19-year-old midfielder has been on loan at Tranmere since March and is now free to join the Merseyside club on a permanent basis should he choose.”

Parry confirmed an offer had been made to Labadie, but said fellow loanee Andy Robinson would not be returning to Rovers.

He said: “Andy Robinson is a dish that’s too expensive for us, we’ve got to stick with the burgers and not the fillet steak.”

The Tranmere manager, who told of his reluctance to start the season with long term loan players, expressed his relief at finally being able to start approaching new players now he knows what budget he will be working with.

He added: “It is no secret the finances in this division and the division below are completely different.

“It has made it difficult as we didn’t know where we would be, but now we do, we can press on and try and sign the players that we are targeting.”

Bas Savage, Gareth Edds and Chris Shuker are the highest profile casualties, and join Charlie Barnett, Kithson Bain and Josh Macauley in looking for a new club for next season.

Parry, who met chairman Peter Johnson on Wednesday to discuss an extension to his role as manager, explained the reason for the clearout.

He said: “I’d like to thank the six players for their time at Prenton Park and wish them all the best for the future.

“We’ve targeted the areas we feel we need to improve and we will be working hard over the summer to bring the players we want to the Club.”

Shuker, a former fans favourite, has found himself out of favour in the manager’s preferred 4-3-3 system.

Despite starting the season as first choice under John Barnes, he has struggled to adapt to the hard working regime implemented by Parry, with some Rovers fans believing he never fully recovered from a series of injuries over the last few years.

Savage has struggled to find fitness following his own injury problems, a damaged achilles heel side-lining him for most of the season, and while his performances have improved of late it seems Parry is unwilling to gamble on him.

Edds, who has been used mainly as a back-up at right back and in central midfield, made some important contributions this season against the likes of Southampton and Exeter.

But unfortunately the lasting memory of his time in Birkenhead will be his sending off in the crucial play-off six pointer at Scunthorpe under Ronnie Moore.

Meanwhile Rovers have offered new contracts to six other players- Craig Curran, Ryan Fraughan, John Welsh, Zoumana Bakayogo, Marlon Broomes and a first professional deal for youth scholar Jack Mackreth.

Goals from Ian Goodison, Ian Thomas-Moore and on-loan midfielder Joss Labadie proved to be enough for Rovers after results elsewhere went their way.

On the back of last Saturday’s impressive win over Millwall, Tranmere went into the game needing to pick up all three points and then hope that one of Exeter, Hartlepool or Gillingham would slip up.

And a win for Exeter, coupled with a draw for Hartlepool, meant that Gillingham slipped into the bottom four after losing 3-0 at Wycombe.

Rovers, backed by more than 3,000 vocal supporters, made only one change to the side that brushed aside Millwall the week before.

Gareth Edds replaced the injured John Welsh in midfield, while Andy Robinson kept his place on the left of the front three.

Signs of nerves were evident early on as Rovers struggled to keep possession, with a number of hopeful balls and misplaced passes setting the tone in the first 20 minutes.

With news filtering through that Exeter had fallen behind, Tranmere gradually began to impose themselves with the impressive Joss Labadie, whose introduction to the team has coincided with an upturn in results of late, dominating the midfield.

And the Wirral side reaped the rewards their improvement deserved in the 38th minute.

Ian Goodison flicked on a long throw from Zoumana Bakayogo to Bas Savage, who held up the ball for long enough to allow the Jamaican centre-half to turn and smash the ball home from six yards out.

The relief around the ground was palpable as Goodison, kissing the badge in glee, ran towards the jubilant Rovers fans in the Popular Stand with his elated team-mates in tow.

Moments later it was nearly two, when Labadie smashed in a shot from outside the area that cannoned back off the post, with Thomas-Moore screwing the rebound over the bar.

Rovers fans’ hearts were in their mouths not long after as Ibehre flashed a header just wide for the hosts, who had in truth offered little, and that proved to be the last chance of the half.

With news of a goal for Wycombe coming through during the interval, Rovers could finally dare to dream that survival was in their grasp.

Les Parry’s side came out fired up for the second half, and when Ian Thomas-Moore managed to divert Bakayogo’s low cross past the despairing dive of Rigby soon after the restart, the fans packed in behind the goal began to celebrate the most unlikely of final day escapes.

15 minutes from the end, a tame effort from Savage was poorly dealt with by Rigby, leaving Labadie with the simple task of tucking home his third goal in the final game of an impressive loan spell.

With Wycombe leading Gillingham by three goals, the party could start in earnest and Rovers fans flooded onto the pitch at the final whistle to celebrate survival in a season that for so long looked to be heading towards disaster.

Now Chairman Peter Johnson has some difficult decisions to make, with Parry’s success in avoiding relegation furthering his cause to retain the top job for next season.

A year ago Rovers narrowly missed out on the play-offs on the final day, this season they ended up surviving by just one point after a tense 90 minutes at Edgeley Park.

And while last day drama has it’s merits,  most Rovers fans would probably be more than happy with a mid-table finish next time around.

In his post match interview following the 3-1 win over fellow strugglers Exeter, Parry admitted his target of 48 points may be a little shy of what is needed, after results at the weekend.

With Gillingham and Orient both winning, Exeter are now the closest team to Rovers sitting just two points off relegation.

Rovers now go into Tuesday’s massive game at Brentford hoping to carry on where they left off after the good performance on Saturday.

Parry said: “We need to rest for a couple of days and if we get that same level of energy in the game at Brentford, we will come away with something.”

Rovers will  be hoping that with little to play for Brentford might just ease off enough for them to snatch a precious three points in their battle for survival.

In team news, Andy Robinson is still struggling with a troublesome groin injury, and will probably remain on the bench,  while Craig Curran should be fit to play. Paul McLaren and Chris McCready are likely to miss out with thigh and hamstring strains respectively.

Predictions bounced around of last minute victories against Brighton, most suggesting returning ‘hero’ Robinson would inspire us to the victory we so desperately craved.

Alas, it all proved unfounded, and Rovers experienced a day straight out of their worst nightmares- comprehensive beating, lack of effort and a straight red for Robbo on his full debut.

I’ll be honest and admit I wasn’t one of the hardy souls at the Withdean (surely one of the worst stadiums in football?). But I’ve seen my fair share of collapses away from home this season- Elland Road and The New Den spring painfully to mind, the only highlight between them being a second half long range effort from Welsh in South London.

What next then?

Well, with Robbo serving the first game of his suspension on friday, it’s going to mean a change of personnel, and many fans are hoping Les will return to 4-4-2 and have a go at Norwich.

After all, he can hardly argue 4-4-3 is offering the protection he’s been espousing- after shipping 4 v leeds and 3 at Brighton.

And now that there seems to be genuine options and competition all over the field it would seem the time has come to have the courage to take the game to the opposition.

It doesn’t seem likely however. Les stated after the Oldham game he would choose a system and stick to it, and Les is nothing if not stubborn.

While the next two games may not decide the season, a return of ‘nil points’ would heap an awful lot of pressure on the 12 pointer double-header of Wycombe and Exeter to come.

Whatever happens, it looks like things are going right down to the wire.

Boys, if you read this- Ubi Fides Ibi Lux Et Robur.

SWA

In my opinion, this is probably the best decision we could make right now. Whilst I was bitterly disappointed that the talks with Keith Hill came to nothing, the last 4 weeks has seen a massive improvement on the pitch, with wins v Southend and Brentford at home and the fantastic point achieved at the Galpharm. Bringing in someone else now would only cause more upheaval, and at this stage of the season we really can’t afford to take our time finding our feet.

It remains to be seen whether Les can keep us up- but the fighting spirit, organisation and dedication is there for all to see. If Les gets to bring in one or two in Jan, and maybe shift one or two out, we might just get out of this mess.

Les, you have our full backing. Godspeed sir.

SWA

In 15 years of support I’ve never been less inspired by such insipid and clueless management, with the terrible team performances and lack of effort more concerning then the results. The sacking of Ronnie Moore has looked more and more ridiculous the further into the season we have gone.

There’s nothing personal towards John- he just isn’t cut out for management at this level. I wish him luck in the future, but fear he may struggle to get a job in football again after the nosedive his CV has taken this season.

A meeting between two fan representatives and the big man took place yesterday, and it would seem he has taken their concerns on board with his action today- so fair play to Chris and Dave over at thecowsheds.co.uk.

The question is, has PJ acted quickly enough to save our season? Many people believe the squad is better than performances and results have suggested. Now is the time to find out. Despite the terrible balance of the squad (7 strikers for 2 position, 6 defenders for 4 positions) I hold out hope that if we bring the right man, someone with experience at lower league football, we can stay in this division and build from there.

For now though, let’s get behind the legend that is Les Parry and his able assistant Shaun Garnett, Tranmere men through and through, on monday.

The great escape is on.

SWA

In many ways this was a great test of how far we had come. Despite a good result and performance against a high flying Colchester, many felt that they employed the wrong tactics against us- namely failing to pressure us into mistakes when in possession, which any half decent manager would realise has been a major issue for us so far this season.

Also, whilst the away victory and clean sheet at Wycombe were a tentative step in the right direction, they are a poor team lacking confidence, and there were a few worrying signs- only two shots compared to 14 or so for Wycombe, and a still shaky backline.

Onto the New Den then, and while confidence was slowly building, most were expecting a tough test. Millwall have been decent at home this season, and despite having trouble scoring were always going to prove stronger oppostion than the Choirboys.

As the SWA assembled in the stand behind the goal, it seemed Bain would be starting as Ricketts was nowhere to be seen in the warmup. Like in the previous game though, he appeared as the teams came out, suggesting his groin may still be troubling him. So it was to prove, on a horrible day for the ‘Lime Green Army’

The game was only minutes old when a long ball was sent over, seemingly harmlessly, between Goodison and Daniels. Unbelievably, a nervous looking Daniels hurtled out of goal and tried to diving header ‘a la Gary Bennett’ the ball away, completely missing it, and was fortunate Goodison was on hand to clear the danger. Unfortunately, it would prove to be one of the few times Goodison put a foot right in the rest of the game.

With the mistake giving Millwall impetus and Daniels becoming a target for jeers from the Lions support, it was hardly surprising when Rovers conceded with the next attack. A poor challenge from Goodison led to a freekick on the edge. The ball came round the wall for a seemingly easy take, but Daniels somehow managed to palm it into his own net. And with that, the heads dropped, the legs stopped running, and 3 goals followed in the next 20 mins.

In what has become a predictably bleak season, the manner of goals being conceded is so simple and avoidable it’s untrue. Millwall latched onto our short passing game, forcing mistake after mistake, crosses weren’t stopped (been banging on about this all season) and the effort simply doesn’t match that of our opponents.

To top things off, as soon as we go behind, Barnes slumps in the dugout like a naughty schoolboy- how this must inspire the boys. I’ve never seen a more gutless manager than Mr Barnes. If it was me I’d be at the touchline screaming.

The second half did show an improvement with Welsh nearly scoring early on from range, and Shuker looked more interested than most with some dangerous running.  Once Broomes was shown a second yellow though, and another piece of poor defending allowed the freekick to sail in, the game was well and truly up.

In all, a bad day at the office- how many more of these atrocious performances can Barnes get away with before he takes the bullet? Sad times indeed to be a white, but credit to the travelling fans who stayed en mass to the end, and clapped the few players who acknowledged their effort at the end.