When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Pen to paper
By David Sindall
July 18 2026
The new season is 4 weeks away, the squad is still under resourced. We have been told that new arrivals are imminent, nobody comes. We have been linked with some interesting signings but there are no sign of them. It’s gone from being amusing to concerning. What is going on?
Leaving aside the imminent takeover, the promised land where we sign quality players and the pigeon poo is cleaned off the seats, we can barely put a team and a full bench of subs out. We are also not sure if we have a keeper who will return from injury, or a forward line that can score goals. Rumour has it that season ticket sales are much reduced. Is it any wonder?
Football is a bit like politics. For the past month we have had the distraction of the World Cup and the delusion that England could win it. Apparently we lost to Argentina because of our DNA, not some useless tactics. Whilst Tommy T has been with the lads across the pond in the US the domestic football scene has been mostly ignored. Sunday night the World Cup ends. Perhaps we will now see progress?
What the new season holds is anyone’s guess. I suspect we will be looking at the bottom end of the table, not the top. We need two teams to be worse than us. My money would be on Newport County and Shrewsbury, the latter can only sign players on frees. Newport survived last season, they will be lucky to emulate that success. Of course, that’s not to say we are not one of the favourites to go down, I am sure we are. There is an absence of quality on the pitch and what looks like short-term thinking driving every decision at the club.
I want to be wrong. I want to be shocked by us running away with the League in the most unexpected promotion we have ever seen. Yet nobody I speak to sees this as remotely likely. Last season I used the analogy of us being a patient in hospital. We now feel like a geriatric in a care home. It’s not if we pass away, it’s when.
Madly most of us still want the season to start. We are Tranmere ‘til we die. More likely, the club might die before us.
When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Total Tranmere (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 11:34
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Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Davey Jones (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 12:53
Unfortunately I think this is our last season. We have an owner who is no longer capable or even arsed about moving forward. The takeover is a lie, administration is inevitable followed by extinction. Although The Smurf will have a brand new site to build on.
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Bored rover (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 14:40
Quote:Davey Jones
Unfortunately I think this is our last season. We have an owner who is no longer capable or even arsed about moving forward. The takeover is a lie, administration is inevitable followed by extinction. Although The Smurf will have a brand new site to build on.
Unfortunately I have to agree and I wonder if we will even see the season out. If we are so far off the pace and effectively relegated at the end if December I can see Palio's unplugging life support
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: LifesFullOfUpsAndDowns (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 14:55
I have better things to do than be endlessly morose and negative about the club I have followed since mid 60s...
Looking at the trialists, Clarke looks to be targeting an age range between 20 and 27 - and players who have been in U21 for premiership teams, as well as those with experience of league one and two.
I'm happy we still have a club and hopefully new owners before the year is out.
Looking at the trialists, Clarke looks to be targeting an age range between 20 and 27 - and players who have been in U21 for premiership teams, as well as those with experience of league one and two.
I'm happy we still have a club and hopefully new owners before the year is out.
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Loyden1 (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 15:27
Quote:we got a few of jobes comforters on here, they gonna be lost if we doing reasonably well🤞LifesFullOfUpsAndDowns
I have better things to do than be endlessly morose and negative about the club I have followed since mid 60s...
Looking at the trialists, Clarke looks to be targeting an age range between 20 and 27 - and players who have been in U21 for premiership teams, as well as those with experience of league one and two.
I'm happy we still have a club and hopefully new owners before the year is out.
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: DevonExile (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 15:40
Good for you, but at the current rate your happiness may be short lived. We look like a club in trouble and the number of trialist, regardless of age is a sharp pointer to a club looking at those that have little chance of otherwise getting a league club. Under 21 premier league players are numerous at every tier of the football pyramid. A few turn out to be good prospects but most do not. We have drifted for more than 4 years each time managing to be worse than the season before. The buyer around the corner tune has been whistled for so long that it now sound more like propaganda than prospect. MP show no sign of a plan B and every sign that he has lost interest in the club. Inactivity in the close season , given the number of departures, and the question marks over some retained looks like negligence on a grand scale. Ok, that is pessimistic but it is a pessimism rooted in the reality of our situation. Enjoy your ups, but in the context of the club 'downs' are far more likely. To be a Rovers supporter you have to have a streak of optimism but for most the increasing possibility of an existential situation leaves nothing that justifies being positive
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: LifesFullOfUpsAndDowns (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 15:56
You forgot IMHO
Clarke cannot wave a magic wand and cure all ills. All he can do is what he has been doing. Clearing the wheat from the chaff and trying to plant new seeds that could even flourish 'in the desert'.
Time will tell but at this point I prefer optimism over endlessly negative comments.
IMHO
quote DevonExile]Good for you, but at the current rate your happiness may be short lived. We look like a club in trouble and the number of trialist, regardless of age is a sharp pointer to a club looking at those that have little chance of otherwise getting a league club. Under 21 premier league players are numerous at every tier of the football pyramid. A few turn out to be good prospects but most do not. We have drifted for more than 4 years each time managing to be worse than the season before. The buyer around the corner tune has been whistled for so long that it now sound more like propaganda than prospect. MP show no sign of a plan B and every sign that he has lost interest in the club. Inactivity in the close season , given the number of departures, and the question marks over some retained looks like negligence on a grand scale. Ok, that is pessimistic but it is a pessimism rooted in the reality of our situation. Enjoy your ups, but in the context of the club 'downs' are far more likely. To be a Rovers supporter you have to have a streak of optimism but for most the increasing possibility of an existential situation leaves nothing that justifies being positive[/quote]
Clarke cannot wave a magic wand and cure all ills. All he can do is what he has been doing. Clearing the wheat from the chaff and trying to plant new seeds that could even flourish 'in the desert'.
Time will tell but at this point I prefer optimism over endlessly negative comments.
IMHO
quote DevonExile]Good for you, but at the current rate your happiness may be short lived. We look like a club in trouble and the number of trialist, regardless of age is a sharp pointer to a club looking at those that have little chance of otherwise getting a league club. Under 21 premier league players are numerous at every tier of the football pyramid. A few turn out to be good prospects but most do not. We have drifted for more than 4 years each time managing to be worse than the season before. The buyer around the corner tune has been whistled for so long that it now sound more like propaganda than prospect. MP show no sign of a plan B and every sign that he has lost interest in the club. Inactivity in the close season , given the number of departures, and the question marks over some retained looks like negligence on a grand scale. Ok, that is pessimistic but it is a pessimism rooted in the reality of our situation. Enjoy your ups, but in the context of the club 'downs' are far more likely. To be a Rovers supporter you have to have a streak of optimism but for most the increasing possibility of an existential situation leaves nothing that justifies being positive[/quote]
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Stewie Barndoor (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 16:40
Could someone please explain the Smurthwaite obsession to me? He no longer owns any property development company. He sold all his businesses and retired at 50. He bought Port Vale, was not a success, looked at Wigan Athletic in 2020 but decided that it was too risky and was put off by the (unsurprisingly) negative fan reaction. He is now 65. Why do people keep portraying him as some sort of bogeyman, waiting in the wings to swoop in and asset strip the club into oblivion?
His one remaining company is AIG Securities, a finance provider. Rightly or wrongly, the Paliosi decided that the overdraft terms offered by the regular banks were too expensive, so the club has taken out a credit facility with AIG Securities. That facility has been guaranteed by a floating charge over the club. The credit should not be used long term but is like a credit card or overdraft, to be used to cover bills when cashflow is tight. We don't know how much the maximum credit limit is or far in to the facility the club is.
If - God forbid - we did go into administration that would actually protect the club from AIG Securities and all other creditors from taking any action to recover their debt and give time for the administrators to try to rescue the club as a going concern.
Don't get me wrong, with his track record I wouldn't want Smurthwaite looking after Rover's kennel. I just don't agree that Smurthwaite is anywhere near the greatest threat to the club.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:07:18:16:46:03 by Stewie Barndoor.
His one remaining company is AIG Securities, a finance provider. Rightly or wrongly, the Paliosi decided that the overdraft terms offered by the regular banks were too expensive, so the club has taken out a credit facility with AIG Securities. That facility has been guaranteed by a floating charge over the club. The credit should not be used long term but is like a credit card or overdraft, to be used to cover bills when cashflow is tight. We don't know how much the maximum credit limit is or far in to the facility the club is.
If - God forbid - we did go into administration that would actually protect the club from AIG Securities and all other creditors from taking any action to recover their debt and give time for the administrators to try to rescue the club as a going concern.
Don't get me wrong, with his track record I wouldn't want Smurthwaite looking after Rover's kennel. I just don't agree that Smurthwaite is anywhere near the greatest threat to the club.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:07:18:16:46:03 by Stewie Barndoor.
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Stewie Barndoor (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 16:51
Also, it's 2 weeks until the start of the season. We've got 13 players under contract and 1 on a season long loan. We know that Connor is out until January at the earliest and we have serious doubts over McGee's fitness. We are so not ready.
Unless these triallists all prove to be a stunning success then we are in trouble.
Unless these triallists all prove to be a stunning success then we are in trouble.
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Jack of all Trades (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 16:57
Currently there is a charge on the ground against the loans he has already made (1.5 million?)
Someone at the end of last season on here spoke to him and he is quoted as saying ,he had offered 6Million which, was turned down.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:07:18:17:00:12 by Jack of all Trades.
Someone at the end of last season on here spoke to him and he is quoted as saying ,he had offered 6Million which, was turned down.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:07:18:17:00:12 by Jack of all Trades.
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: pc1968 (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 17:44
Some Good points made by by Stewie Barndoor
( although I thought we had a squad of 17 ? )
( although I thought we had a squad of 17 ? )
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: DevonExile (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 20:14
Just for the record, I do not blame Clarke he has to play a very poor hand. If he keeps us in the league it will be a considerable achievement
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Zint (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 20:36
Clarke is not the issue. I am sure he will do his best. The club is adrift.
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Davey Jones (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 20:55
+1
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Stewie Barndoor (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 21:17
[quote pc1968]Some Good points made by by Stewie Barndoor
( although I thought we had a squad of 17 ? )[/quote
We do have a squad of 17, you're quite right.
Things don't look so bad now eh?!
( although I thought we had a squad of 17 ? )[/quote
We do have a squad of 17, you're quite right.
Things don't look so bad now eh?!
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Zint (IP Logged)
Date: 18/07/2026 21:38
You can judge nothing on the basis of a meaningless pre-season friendly.
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: LifesFullOfUpsAndDowns (IP Logged)
Date: 19/07/2026 10:42
If they had lost then the usual suspects would be up in arms despite the ‘meaningless’ tag - we already have the sarcastic posts despite what Clarke has said in his interviews about being patient and him wanting to bring in ‘quality’
And Clarke would get a lot out of the pre-season friendlies. He gets to see how trialiists perform, how fit players are, who plays well in whatever position.
So the games are far from meaningless to Clarke.
IMHO
Clarke comes across as level headed and with a vision as to who he wants as players and how the team should perform. He has also tried to address shortfalls in the backroom team, especially with regards to the medical side of things. Time will tell if there are to be fewer long term injuries - the prior managers blamed impact injuries. Changing the DNA of the club will take time. Personally, I have become bored with ‘the Tranmere Way’ being spouted. No idea what that sctuslly means after 20 years of falling down the pyramid (with a slight rise back up)
I’m actually looking forward to the new season.
And Clarke would get a lot out of the pre-season friendlies. He gets to see how trialiists perform, how fit players are, who plays well in whatever position.
So the games are far from meaningless to Clarke.
IMHO
Clarke comes across as level headed and with a vision as to who he wants as players and how the team should perform. He has also tried to address shortfalls in the backroom team, especially with regards to the medical side of things. Time will tell if there are to be fewer long term injuries - the prior managers blamed impact injuries. Changing the DNA of the club will take time. Personally, I have become bored with ‘the Tranmere Way’ being spouted. No idea what that sctuslly means after 20 years of falling down the pyramid (with a slight rise back up)
I’m actually looking forward to the new season.
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Loyden1 (IP Logged)
Date: 19/07/2026 11:40
+1mate
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Bored rover (IP Logged)
Date: 19/07/2026 12:10
Quote:LifesFullOfUpsAndDowns
If they had lost then the usual suspects would be up in arms despite the ‘meaningless’ tag - we already have the sarcastic posts despite what Clarke has said in his interviews about being patient and him wanting to bring in ‘quality’
And Clarke would get a lot out of the pre-season friendlies. He gets to see how trialiists perform, how fit players are, who plays well in whatever position.
So the games are far from meaningless to Clarke.
IMHO
Clarke comes across as level headed and with a vision as to who he wants as players and how the team should perform. He has also tried to address shortfalls in the backroom team, especially with regards to the medical side of things. Time will tell if there are to be fewer long term injuries - the prior managers blamed impact injuries. Changing the DNA of the club will take time. Personally, I have become bored with ‘the Tranmere Way’ being spouted. No idea what that sctuslly means after 20 years of falling down the pyramid (with a slight rise back up)
I’m actually looking forward to the new season.
He could be as level headed as a dutch mountain, as patient as a heart bypass and have as clear a vision as specsavers but his boss is still Mark Palios , so he'll still be lumbered with over the hill injury probe wage wasters and kids who he can "develop"
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Stewie Barndoor (IP Logged)
Date: 19/07/2026 16:19
I started watching Tranmere later than some on this forum; my first game was in September 1997 (Norwich City. 2-0 to Tranmere with goals from David Kelly and Lee Jones). From what I've seen in 30+ years of the Rovers, if there is a Tranmere Way, it would be trying to play open, attractive passing football, developing local talent, giving youth players an opportunity and promoting from within.
We seem to have somewhat lost our way over the last few years.
We seem to have somewhat lost our way over the last few years.
Re: When you’re not ready it’s obvious.
Posted by: Zint (IP Logged)
Date: 19/07/2026 17:32
Barn door obvious
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