TRANMERE manager Nigel Adkins has shared his thoughts on the rumoured takeover of the club but has denied it will become a distraction for him or his players.

The news broke this week that US rapper A$AP Rocky, the 36-year-old boyfriend of pop star Rihanna, is reportedly part of an investment group, led by celebrity lawyer Joe Tacopina, interested in purchasing an 80% stake in Tranmere.

Tacopina has previously had ownership positions at four different Italian clubs, including Bolgna, and the lawyer, who has worked for US President Donald Trump, has been to watch League Two side.

A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is being represented by Tacopina in an upcoming trial in a case with charges that the rapper fired a pistol at a former friend. 

"It's not an issue for me," said Adkins, whose side sit 18th in the table with 14 points from 12 games. "I've been at several football clubs where there has been talk of takeovers going on.

"My focus is on controlling the controllable and getting a team training to its best level and improving individuals."

Adkins added that he welcomed any potential investment in the club if it helped the club "evolve". 

"Obviously I've been speaking to Mark (Palios, Tranmere chairman) and things have been going on for a vey long time so I am aware of what is going on but I can't control that," he said.

"What I can control is how we train every day, the culture we have and the environment we have got and that everyone is pulling in the same direction and not getting clouded with what might be going on in the future.

Mark and Nicola (Palios) have talked publicly about how they have been looking for investment for several years now - I'm a Tranmere Rovers supporter and I'm from Birkenhead and I just want the best for our football club and if that is further investment to help the football club kick on than I'm really pleased about the potential the club has.

"It's our football club and it's a community club and I'm really looking forward to the potential that might bring to our club."

Adkins rejected any concerns about the nationality of the takeover consortium or the celebrity involvement of A$AP Rocky.

He said: "With that comes questions and doubts and people's opinions so people need a bit of clarity and I'm sure that will come in the future when things are all sorted out. 

"We are an international football club anyway and we have a lot of people who come from all over the world to train at our facility.

"All of a sudden the exposure becomes greater but isn't that a good thing? We're trying to evolve - people don't like change and people are frightened of change at times but the most important thing is the stability of our football club and that we have a football club to support. If we can get people to dream about what the club might look like that's great - it's great to be excited about things."

The potential takeover has been compared with actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's ownership of Tranmere's close rivals Wrexham but Adkins said the club's future is not just dependent on finances and investment. 

He said: "First and foremost Wrexham's success has been down to good management from Phil Parkinson - yes they had the finances to go and do it but they have a manager who knows what he is on about and can bring players in to do what that they wanted to do.

"Having been though this process several times before I know what it's like and I have the experience of doing that.

"Can Tranmere Rovers supporters dream? Firstly they need to know they have a team they can support who are passionate and work hard and are trying to win games of football as well as play in a way that gives us the opportunity to get in the penalty area and score goals."

Tranmere face Cheshire rivals Crewe at the weekend with the Railwaymen unbeaten at home since August. Lee Bell's side have lost one game in ten and have kept a clean sheet in their last three matches against Tranmere in all competitions.

Tranmere, meanwhile, are struggling for results with just three wins all season leaving them six points above the drop.

Adkins said: "We have a tough game at the weekend against Crewe who are flying high - they just missed out on promotion last year at Wembley and they have started well again this season.

"But speak to every manager who we have played and they say 'it's tough playing against your guys'. 

"We have a team who work hard and are passionate and we'll take a good crowd down there to Crewe and they have to get right behind the team because there will be spells when things will be against us but we have honest, hard-working players and we all have to stick together and show resilience.

"We're very close and I'm pleased with the direction we're moving in from where we were.

"It is frustrating because results change the mindset of people and the players are well aware because there's no hiding place and we have to improve but I know we have a hard working, committed, passionate group of players who have ability and I am very pleased with them."