The clean-up begins
Wednesday 14th October, 2009
By Richard Ault

Les Parry has his work cut-out to try and turn things around as Caretaker Manager after seeing his side fall to an unlucky 1-0 home defeat to Stockport County on Monday night.

To say the fans needed a lift going in to Monday's game was an understatement. We needed one, and so did the club as a whole.

A week ago many would have scoffed at the thought of Les being in charge of first team affairs, but he's wasted no time in doing something hugely significant and badly needed - he's put some pride back in.

Arriving at the ground there was a bit of a buzz around the place again. Chris Malkin was back in the dugout as physio, a true Tranmere Rovers legend who is currently employed by Aston Villa as Academy physio.

Another crowd favourite of days-gone-by was back too, Wayne Allison in to help with coaching. The Chief, as he was so affectionately known, was beaming at kick-off, that contagious smile of his suggesting he was delighted to be back, and he meant business.

Added to Les Parry and Shaun Garnett in control of first team affairs, there was a real feeling of having our Tranmere back. The glamour and ego of big names and talk of footballing philosophies from way back when have thankfully gone, replaced with steel, grit and a Tranmere spirit that seemed to instantly resonate in the home stands.

Even if the team on the pitch aren’t having the best time, the way our former heroes appear to be ready to drop everything and return to help us in our time of need brings a lump to the back of your throat. This club means a lot to them as well.

The Hollywood approach has left our club in a precarious position, but the feeling on Monday night was that Tranmere would fight their way out. By Tranmere I don’t just mean the players. I mean Les. Chief. Malks. Garnett. The players. The fans. Everyone, as one. This is how it should be.

The performance on Monday still lacked quality, but there were positive signs. There were a couple of crisp passing moves, but they were moving forward rather than aimlessly side-to-side like previous weeks. Most of all, we had fight.

The fans reacted to the new era positively.  With a damp, autumn moisture in the air, the floodlights shining down. It just felt like being at Tranmere again. There was a togetherness about the place.

This is what we have missed, and although we are crying out for a new manager, I don't think any of us are particularly worried when we have the likes of Les Parry and Shaun Garnett watching over our club whilst Peter Johnson does the necessary.

The rumour mill is in meltdown in terms of who will come in, but what our interim management team have proved is how easy it is to have the belief back amongst the fans. And whilst the game ended in a defeat, albeit an unfortunate one, the players were applauded off. Yes, they are a big reason for us being in this mess, but they are also our best chance of getting out of it. Let's stick with them.

Trundling back up Borough Road at full-time you couldn't help but feel that, whilst Rovers are in real danger, we are at least going to make a fist of things. And we're going to do it our way. It's as though a Hurricane has passed through Prenton Park. A trail of destruction in its wake, and Les Parry is the first man to have to try and clean that up. You worry about how long it will take to completely sort things out. Weeks? Months? Even years?

The improved support and atmosphere was not lost on Les, not that you'd expect it to be for one minute. In his after match press conference, what was the first thing he talked about? The fans.

"The crowd were absolutely magnificent. They supported us all game, even when we were down which was great to see.

"You need the crowd when you're losing and that's what we got. All three sides got really behind us and we appreciate it."

Here's hoping, and expecting, it all again when Brighton roll into Prenton Park on Saturday.