Tranmere go into tomorrow’s clash against Charlton with only one win in their last 17 games. After the goal-less midweek draw against Carlisle, Rovers continue to struggle under manager Les Parry.
Many managers who have only won on in their last 17 would of been sacked by now, but while Peter Johnson is still at the helm, it appears inevitable that Parry will keep his job. The club currently sit in 17th position in the table and we are now only seven points ahead of Wycombe, who occupy the last relegation place in League One.
Charlton, on the other hand, are sitting comfortably at the top of the table and they had an impressive 2-1 midweek victory over fellow promotion rivals MK Dons. Their eight point lead over Sheffield United can be improved or maintained with a victory over Tranmere tomorrow. Not only do they have an eight point gap to 2nd placed Sheffield United, but they are ten points clear of third placed Sheffield Wednesday and they have two games in hand. Manager Chris Powell has put together a fantastic squad and despite struggling last year, he seems to have got the Addicks back moving in the right direction towards the Championship.
Despite having a great start to the season, Tranmere have wavered since. Injuries to key players as well as the manager’s inability to change things around at key moments, has lead to a huge slip down the League One table. A club like Tranmere cannot afford to have a big squad so any injuries can hit the squad very hard and result in the recent poor form we have witnessed.
You’ve got to admire the hard-work that the manager puts in, he’s not had any real financial backing but has still been able to assemble a good league one squad. With a tight budget, it’s never going to be easy to get together a squad capable of finishing in the top of the table, but he been able to achieve this.
At the start of the season, Les Parry told the media he believed we would be “there, or thereabouts at the end of the season” and our early season form looked like he wasn’t far wrong, but the last few months have shown otherwise.
If Rovers don’t win tomorrow, that would be only one victory in the last 18 games. Previous manager John Barnes, bit the bullet with a far worse record. Understandably supporters are gradually losing faith and patience with the current manager and it now remains to be seen whether Tranmere will actually be able to stay up under Parry.
As a result we really do need three points tomorrow or face the risk of being dragged into yet another relegation battle come the end of the season. With any luck by May, Tranmere will have done enough to remain in League One, and the fan-led Tranmere Trust will have gained full control of the club. Any fans who still wish to help out can do so by contacting the trust on www.tranmereroverstrust.co.uk.
By Tranmere blogger James Formstone
