Anybody with a jot of financial nouse will know the feasible outcome of this venture, Tranmere with no significant debt, ownership of stadium and training ground that wouldn’t require planning permission would appeal to any asset stripper, allowing for an easy return on investment and ride off into the Birkenhead sunset, leaving the people of Tranmere with no club to support, and essentially wiping out the memory of the past 126 years.

Meanwhile on the pitch, our chirpy time served physio is at risk of allowing the team to self destruct, tactically and strategically clueless, watching the team from the stands is not the enjoyable experience it should be, but more depressing and infuriating.

I can only speak of what I know, which almost leads me to tears. Sitting at the top of the mainstand with my dad, watching Tranmere beat West Ham 5-2 is enough to hook any youngster at his first football match, the love affair continues, the smell of the hotdogs, the click of the turnstyle, Nixon, Malkin, Hill, Achterberg are all part of my makeup. I’m determined not to lose that, are you?

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Now, 3 games into the season and once again the club is in turmoil, Les Parry’s style of football and management have always been questionable but whereas in the great escape we were incredibly difficult to breakdown, we are now as weak as p*#£. A distinct lack of creativity, pace and vision has lead to 2 home defeats and a credible point away to Huddersfield.

Parry looked to offload deadwood and bring in players that would actually improve the starting 11 during the close season, and it seemed he and his scouting team had done a good job signing younger players such as Wood, Labadie and Cathalina, and also extending the contracts of Ash Taylor and John Welsh. The foundation of the team looked good, the performances have been nothing short of diabolical. Averaging 2 shots on target in each game and only a consolation goal from talisman Ian Thomas Moore our goal difference is a frightening figure already.

Parry’s fondness of the 4-3-3 formation appears to be the root of the problem, playing players in roles they are neither comfortable or effective in, and leaving 2 inexperienced full backs horrifically exposed. The players also seem to be unaware of any kind of zonal positioning, making it easy to defend against, and difficult to form meaningful attacks.

This combined with the transfer request of last seasons top scorer and club captain Ian Thomas Moore, rumoured to being tapped up by father Ronnie has disrupted the harmony at the club, and showed his personal frustration after being substituted on Saturday.

I am equally as concerned now as I was at the same point last season. I genuinely hope Parry can turn it around, but as with last season radical changes are a must, and the sooner the better for the sake of Tranmere Rovers Football Club.

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.

If results at Gillingham and Yeovil don’t go our way the season is over and we’re confined to League Two football against the likes of Lincoln, Burton Albion and Morecombe, gutted.

It’s time for Les and the men in white to show some grit and determination, a trait seriously lacking for the majority of the season from the majority of the players. The fans cannot be criticised, as poor performances and poor results ultimately lead to a sombre atmosphere, but the Super White Army have admirably stood by their team.

It’s down to Mr Johnson to do the right thing regardless of what happens in the remaining fixtures, employ a proven manager who can build the club from the ground up, ala Johnny King.

The SWA will be behind the team today, showing the passion that isn’t evident in all but a few players in the squad, but today I pray that every member of the playing staff are willing to put blood on their shirt for the cause, and not just be prepared to walk away with their inflated wages that they don’t deserve. Come on you white men.

Super White Army

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.

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

Super White Army

Super White Army