Tranmere Rovers’ interim manager, Andy Crosby spoke to the media ahead of his side’s visit to Rodney Parade to face Newport County.

Crosby told that his side will be missing Regan Hendry following his sending off against Crewe as well as Sam Finley who misses the second match of a 13-game ban.

“What won’t change is that we go to Newport and try and win the final game of the season.”

Tranmere confirmed that they will be playing in League Two once again next season with a 2-0 victory over Crewe, taking an enormous amount of pressure off the team for their last game of the season.

“We’re all delighted that we played very well last week against Crewe and got the job done. I’d say to collect the amount of points we have done in the period of time we’ve been working together has been good, but ultimately, you look at the league table and we can still finish much higher so that is still the aim.

“Obviously we’ve been on a really good run of form; the amount of points we’ve collected would make us a playoff team over a full season so, yeah we’re delighted with that but there’s still more motivation for the group, for me, so we want to finish as high as we possibly can.”

Jordan Turnball spoke to the press about the sense of comradery since Crosby came in and the effect that the general togetherness has had on the team’s performances. Speaking on the matter, Crosby said “we’ve all played a part in changing some things, results are the biggest influence on team spirit and togetherness and without them you’ve always got that little piece missing.

“I’m a firm believer that good preparation leads to confidence and belief and it leads to a better place to go out and perform which ultimately leads to better results. We’ve looked at many things: we’ve tweaked, we’ve altered, we’ve discussed, we’ve fed back, we’ve reflected on so many things and the results have been a culmination of that.”

The relationship between the team, the club and the fans has only bettered since Crosby took over, with results being at the forefront of that.

“It’s a good reflection on everyone that’s contributed and that’s all the staff here, all the players here, some who haven’t had any game time which has been frustrating for them and for all the supporters because the club was divided I think, there was obviously frustration from the terraces of where we were as a football club and rightly so but the atmosphere, the noise during Saturday’s game and after Saturday’s game was great to see.”

Crosby reflected on what it means to represent Tranmere and its surrounding area for himself and the team.

“We spoke in those first few days about the basics that we have to do as a football team even more so when you’re representing an area like this, a working class place where the supporters are paying money which they haven’t got lots of.

“You know, this is a working class place with working class values and when our fans are coming to our games and sacrificing what they do from a financial point of view, it’s really important that we give everything that we’ve got because we’re in a privileged position of playing football or managing or coaching within football and it’s something that we collectively love doing and they love this football club.

“They’ll be here long after all the players and all the staff are gone and they’ll still be supporting Tranmere Rovers for as long as they’re on this Earth so it’s good to reward them and I hope as many of them can go to Newport on Saturday and get behind the team again and support the players.”

Tranmere’s turnaround in the last 12 games bodes well for Crosby’s claim for a more permanent role next season, though the manager insists the decision is out of his hands.

A look at Adkins’ last 12 games and Crosby’s first 12 games.

Adkins Crosby
Games 12 12
Goals 7 18
Wins 1 5
Losses 8 2
Draws 3 5
Points 6 17

 

“That’s ultimately going to be someone else’s decision, I came into the football club in a different role and then took over at the start of March obviously with the remit of trying to stay in League Two and as I say the points we’ve taken so far, over a 46-game season would probably get us in the play-offs.

“I think I’ve proven I can do the job. As I said, I’m ambitious. This position came up as it did and I’d like to think that I’ve done the job I was asked to do. It’s going to be down now to other people to make the decisions that they need to do and we’ll see what happens.”

Thinking more long term, Crosby addressed the looming contract renewals for many players which will leave a busy summer for those in charge.

“When that game comes to an end, we have 16 players out of contract, we’ve got four loan players who will all go back to their own clubs. Decisions have to be made on them, they need to be told by a date in May whether the clubs want to retain their services or not, so that needs to be done.

“I’ve got no idea whether there will be new ownership or not, the club obviously made a decision which it did for for reasons that are private to the football club. My sole focus is currently the first team of this football club and if that changes and there’s developments within the football club it’s something that I will obviously work with, work alongside and encourage.”

Tranmere will face Newport County at 3pm on Saturday 3rd of May. You can get tickets here.

Featured image courtesy of Alamy Images under agreed licence.

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