Chris McCready delighted at his return to Les Parry’s Tranmere

Jan 28 2010 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

CHRIS McCREADY says his decision to return to Prenton Park on loan was a “no brainer” – even though the move has not brought him an immediate return to first-team football.

The Ellesmere Port-born centre-back rejoined Tranmere on a temporary arrangement from Northampton Town that runs until the end of the season. He was previously with Rovers during the 2006-07 campaign, playing 47 games at the heart of the defence and at full-back.

McCready has done nothing more than sit on the substitutes’ bench since he came back last week, watching Tranmere lose 1-0 at MK Dons and beat Yeovil 2-1 Prenton Park on Tuesday night.

Manager Les Parry says he has no cause to make unforced changes to a defence performing consistently well over recent weeks. But McCready knows that with specialist defenders thin on the ground at the Wirral club, the opportunity for senior action is liable to come sooner rather than later.

McCready said: “I feel comfortable here and I’m really delighted to be back. I know I have not been able to get into the side so far but the manager informed me of the situation before I signed. The lads at the back have been doing well, so I have come here to fight for my place. I’m more than happy to do that.”

McCready, 28, was delighted with the success over Yeovil which saw third-to-bottom Tranmere climb to within four points of a place of safety in the League One table.

“I was as pleased as anyone about Tuesday’s result,” McCready said. “I am still a Tranmere fan and I want to be in there fighting for the club.

“We really have to pull together to get out of this. It’s not going to take one player signing. It is going to take a huge effort from everyone. We all need to be on the same page.”

McCready, originally a product of Crewe Alexandra’s youth development set-up, spent six seasons as a pro at Gresty Road, then joined Tranmere to become a regular in the side during Ronnie Moore’s first season as manager.

He returned to Crewe in the summer of 2007 but was released by the Railwayman at the end of last season.

McCready spent a few days training with Tranmere last summer but was unable to secure a the firm offer of a contract from manager John Barnes. When Northampton manager Stuart Gray after a deal in July, he accepted.

McCready said: “I was out of contract in the summer and I trained here at Tranmere for a few days. The manager at the time (Barnes) said he wanted to sign someone on loan, a young player so he would not have to pay his wages and save some money.

“He was fair enough about it and told me the situation from day one. I had to look for other options.”

McCready played 18 games for the Cobblers but when Gray was replaced by Ian Sampson in September, his appearances began to dry up. Pressure to reduce the wage bill at the Sixfields Stadium also influenced Northampton’s decision to release McCready on loan terms that were attractive to Tranmere.

McCready said: “The new manager came in at Northampton and he did not play me. These things happen in football. I had an idea that Northampton had overspent their budget and wanted to get someone out.

“When I got the green light I informed Tranmere and they came back the next day to say they wanted to do it. I am delighted. Coming here is a no-brainer.

“I have happy memories of my first season here. I think I only missed two or three games. I hope I can make some happy memories this time.”