Tranmere boss Ronnie Moore expecting tough summer

May 13 2009 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

However, Moore hopes Tranmere's gallant near miss in finishing seventh on a modest budget this season may give them an edge in convincing targeted players to choose Prenton Park before other destinations.

"Our performance this season might help us," Moore said. "We have something to hang our hats on because players will think we'll want to have another go. If we are offering similar money to a club that finished 14th, then that can give us an edge."

Picking out the genuine bargains from the hundreds of players who come onto the market in summer is the stuff that makes managers’ reputations at this level.

Moore made a couple of selections two years ago in Ben Chorley and Antony Kay who became conspicuous successes. Both out-of-contract players are likely targets for wealthy clubs this summer after enjoying excellent seasons at Prenton Park.

Moore said: "At our level the faces of the players change while the ability of most of them is similar. If they had better ability they would not be coming to a League One club.

"We are looking for those players who we believe we can get more out of than someone else did last season. If you can get those selections right and build some togetherness into the dressing room, then our experience this season shows how far you can take it."

Moore acknowledges that players from Tranmere's youth development operation are likely to make up a greater proportion of squad numbers next season.

Moore said: "We are in a situation where youth and homegrown players are going to play a bigger part at this level. We have always had good kids here. The youth development system is second to none thanks to the work of Warwick Rimmer, Shaun Garnett and Kenny Shiels.

"Some of the kids who came through coped well with first-team football this season. But you can't have too many inexperienced players in the side at the same time. If I go into next season with seven kids in the team, I reckon I could be looking for a job by Christmas."

Moore hopes he can make a regular use of the loan system next season. But he worries about whether Premiership and Championship clubs can be persuaded to act more generously over the financial arrangements of deals. He points out that many clubs in League One and League Two won't be in a position to pay the wages of young prospects released on loan from from larger, wealthier clubs without financial assistance.

Moore has been advocating a scheme in which Premiership and Championship clubs continue to pay the wages of young players when they are sent out on loan to the lower divisions – provided they are given the benefit of first-team football.