NATIONWIDE League Division One Manager of the Month John Aldridge has talked of his ambitions in international football - and reflected on how near he was to quitting Prenton Park.

The Tranmere boss received the accolade for the first time in his managerial career after steering Rovers off the bottom of the table with an unbeaten October run which brought four wins and two draws. The award was presented by Ray Stubbs, the Wirral-based BBC-TV sports reporter and anchorman.

Speaking at a presentation luncheon, organised by Nationwide Building Society at the Villa Venezia Restaurant opposite Prenton Park, Mr Aldridge said: "I really was close to quitting before the Birmingham game at the beginning of October. I couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel. It seemed that we were losing £1.7 million a year and I couldn't see how that had happened when I had brought five million pounds into the club.

"We were rock-bottom of the League and we couldn't see where the club was going; all we could see was the club going out of existence. After a career as a winner, I didn't want to be associated with that."

Mr Aldridge said new chairman Fred Williams, who took over when Frank Corfe dramatically quit, helped to turn the situation around.

"I was very impressed with the way that Fred was thinking positively," said a relaxed Aldo. "Then he gave me the money from the Newcastle game to buy players - and that really helped the situation."

Mr Aldridge's ambitions don't just involve Tranmere, though. He said: "Really I'm learning management at Tranmere, but in 10 or 20 years' time I'd like to take the ultimate job and manage Ireland. I would love to manage my country."

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