Tranmere Rovers: Les Parry asks boo boys to hold their tongues

Dec 14 2011 Liverpool Daily Post

MANAGER Les Parry is asking Tranmere fans to think twice before subjecting players to booing and jeering – and put their voices behind the team instead.

Parry hopes the negative noises that came from areas of the Prenton Park stands during last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to MK Dons were a one-off grumble.

He is looking for a more supportive atmosphere when Tranmere return to home soil for important League One games against Rochdale and Bury over the Christmas holiday.

Parry said: “I’m not criticising any specific areas of our crowd but booing does have an effect on players.

“We all admit that the crowd has a positive effect on the team and we also have to admit that the crowd can have a negative effect as well.

“I felt from the first minute last Saturday that the crowd were not behind us. But let’s not get away from the fact that our crowd have been fantastic with us this season.

“Some of the support we have had in the last few games was exemplary. The booing on Saturday was not a long-standing thing. It was just an individual 45 minutes when I thought they were a little bit harsh on the lads.”

Parry and his coaching staff were surprised and disappointed by the booing that marked the half-time whistle in the MK Dons game.

“There are times when you have to hold your hand up and respect the fans’ right to voice their concern,” Parry said. “I just felt that last Saturday was a little bit harsh because I thought we did well in the first half, even though we were 1-0 down.

“When we got the players into the dressing room the first thing we were trying to do was say: don’t let the crowd get to Šyou. We should have been saying: we can get something out of this game from here.”

Parry added: “Players can’t shut it out. It’s like in any walk of life. If you are putting wheels on a car at Vauxhall and you have 10 people behind you saying the job you are doing is rubbish, it’s going to have an effect.”

The impatient mood at Prenton Park may have had more to do with Tranmere’s run of poor form – they have lost six times in the last seven league and cup outings – than the quality of their first half performance against an impressive MK Dons side.

Parry said: “When you have not won in six games it is the time when you need the crowd behind you. You don’t need their help when you are winning 4-0. You need them at the times when you are Šstruggling a little bit.”

Tranmere are offering a £5 discounts to supporters who purchased tickets for the two Christmas holiday games at Prenton Park. Rovers take on Rochdale on Boxing Day (kick-off 3pm) and host Berry on Friday, December 30 (kick-off 7:45pm). The £5 discount is available to fans purchasing tickets for both games at the same time.

Chief executive Mick Horton said: “We know Christmas and New Year is a time when families and friends come together and we hope the price reduction will temper our fans to to bring someone extra with them for those two local derbies.”

Meanwhile former Tranmere striker Bas Savage is looking for a club again after being released by Northampton Town yesterday.

The well travelled Londoner had his short-term contract with the Cobblers cancelled by new manager Aidy ŠBoothroyd following 10 senior appearances this season.

Savage, 29, played 62 games for Tranmere between 2008 and 2010 and was with Dagenham and Redbridge last season. Northampton are his 10th League club.