Physio Les Parry becomes Tranmere boss

‘Who needs Mourinho? We’ve got our Physio!’ That was the chorus raining down from Tranmere's Kop in the run up to Rovers’ game with Stockport County on Monday night.

Les Parry, famed for dishing out ‘rough treatment’ in his programme notes and for wearing trademark short-shorts in all weathers, was named as caretaker manager following the dismissals of John Barnes and his assistant Jason McAteer on Friday morning. The mood was buoyant inside Prenton Park before Tranmere’s League One clash with County.

Over 5,500 spectators took advantage of the reduced ticket prices to show their support for the popular long-serving medic, a fact Parry alluded to in his post-match press conference. He said: "The crowd were absolutely magnificent. They supported us all game, even when we were down which was great to see."

Alex Fewtrell, a Tranmere fan for more than ten years, said: "I’m not sure if it was right to bring Parry in, but Barnes should have been sacked weeks ago meaning we’d have sorted a permanent manager out earlier."

Parry has been with the club for over 20 years and has been physiotherapist since 1993. This is not, however, the only occasion when a physio has been called upon to take the manager's hot seat. Current Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins made the switch from the treatment room to the dugout in 2006 and led his team to promotion in 2007.

The game itself ended in anti-climax, with Tranmere losing to a solitary goal scored in the 67th minute. Rovers’ stopper Luke Daniels was given a straight red card in giving away a penalty, which was converted by Stockport's Carl Baker.

Who do the fans want in the long run? We asked a selection of Tranmere supporters who they would like to see get the job permanently:

Matt Dowler, 19, Heswall
“I would love [Steve] Coppell but in the real world I’m not sure [if he would come to Tranmere]. It depends on who we can afford.”

Alex Fewtrell, 19, Heswall
“I’d like Ray Mathias back, but he hasn’t been mentioned. Ian Muir has been talked about and I wouldn’t mind him because he actually cares for the club.”

Dale Pilkington, 20, Bromborough
“Firstly I think it’s key to get someone in with lower league experience. Steve Cotterill did a great job building a lower league club and I think he would be a good name to put forward. Paul Jewell has also been mentioned, and whilst he’s been out of management a long time, he loves a good hard task. But when you hear [Robbie] Fowler is in the hat you lose belief in the Rovers board as he’d just be another clown like Barnes.”