Football Season Guide

Mark and Nicola Palios have been extremely vocal after Tranmere Rovers were relegated from League 1 in June. They were sitting third bottom in the table when the league was paused due to the Covid-19 pandemic and soon realised their fate when the PPG method was proposed to decide the final standings. Despite some desperate lobbying, only four other clubs in League 1 voted with them to continue the season and Rovers find themselves back in League 2. There is real bitterness on Birkenhead, although any argument for special treatment doesn't stand up to scrutiny. The fall out has seen manager Micky Mellon leave the club to take over at Dundee United and former defender Michael Jackson has been appointed as his successor. Jackson’s only previous managerial experience came six years ago in a short and unsuccessful spell at Shrewsbury Town. He will have to rebuild the squad with several influential loanees having returned to their parent clubs. The loss of striker Connor Jennings is another blow. He will be pleased to have kept hold of defender Mark Ellis and midfielder Ollie Banks whilst the stand-out capture so far is midfielder Jay Spearing from Blackpool. Winger Otis Khan has something to prove after a disappointing spell at Mansfield Town whilst Joe Murphy will compete with Scott Davies for a place between the sticks.