Tranmere Rovers FC manager Les Parry has to start from scratch

Jan 19 2012 by Nick Hilton, The Liverpool Post

TRANMERE face the prospect of taking a scratch team into this weekend’s League One encounter with Bournemouth at Dean Court.

Illness and injuries are taking a toll on the squad and Rovers are braced to lose central striker Mustafa Tiryaki in a surprise transfer to Turkish club Trabzonspor over the next few days.

Manager Les Parry says Trabzonspor are keen to sign the 24-year-old Tiryaki, who moved to Prenton Park from non-League Havant & Waterlooville as a free agent during the summer.

“They have been badgering and phoning us Šall the time,” said Parry, who is discussing the issue with chairman Peter Johnson, who returned from holiday this week.

“Mustafa may well be off pretty soon, so if that is the case we will need to bring someone in.”

Tiryaki is the only fit specialist centre-forward currently on the books with Enoch Showunmi facing another month on the sidelines because of a leg injury.

But a fee, even if it is short of the £100,000 figure in circulation, would represent a significant profit for Rovers and should enable Parry to operate with greater freedom in reinforcing his depleted squad.

Tiryaki did not figure in Tranmere’s goalless draw against Rochdale on Tuesday night because of an illness, Parry said. Adam McGurk and ŠZoumana Bakayogo were also withdrawn because of a stomach bug, which Parry revealed was affecting at least two players who were sent out into action on Tuesday.

To make matters worse, defenders Ash Taylor, David Buchanan and Ian Goodison picked up knocks in a game that lifted Tranmere seven points clear of the relegation places.

Parry gave a debut to trainee Cole Stockton and the 17-year-old, an 84th minute substitute, came close to snatching a dramatic winner.

Stockton was recalled from loan duty Šwith Blue Square North club Vauxhall Motors this week and Parry confirmed he is hoping to make another signing in the loan market in time for the Bournemouth game.

The draw left Tranmere with a record of just one win from nine League One games. One disgruntled young fan raised a ‘Parry out’ banner at the start of the game and was booed by the rest of the crowd before pulling it down.

“I have seen that banner before,” Parry said.

“I think they made it two years ago.”