TRANMERE manager Nigel Adkins said the rumoured investment into the club can't come soon enough after his side were dumped out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle by non-league Oldham Athletic.
Connor Jennings fired Tranmere – 19th in the fourth tier – into a ninth minute lead but goals from Rovers old boy James Norwood and substitute Jesuran Uchegbulam took Oldham through, to the delight of more than 2,000 travelling supporters who chanted their manager and former Prenton Park boss Micky Mellon's name at the end of the game.
A proposed takeover of Tranmere Rovers involving Donald Trump’s former lawyer Joe Tacopina and US rapper A$AP Rocky has been mooted in recent weeks but could face a delay, according to reports in City AM, after the withdrawal of one of the principal investors.
But for the fans who booed Adkins and his players at the final whistle any takeover needs to happen sooner rather than later after they watched Tranmere lose in the first round of the FA Cup for the third year running.
“I get the atmosphere at the end of the game,” he said. “And there will be throwaway comments.
“I have a team trying hard but we haven’t won. So, it has got to change.
“There is a lot of anger but I will be the one to bear it and try to keep the players going.
“There has been talk of new investment coming into the club and the sooner that happens the better.
“But in the meantime we are in the mire. And we have got to be in the mire together.”
Adkins was full of praise for his opposite number who led Tranmere for two spells and won two consecutive promotions for Rovers.
He said: "Credit to Micky and all his players because they have come here and got the win and I have total respect for what he and all his staff did for our football club and getting us back in the Football League and he's going to try and replicate that now with Oldham and they have every chance of doing that because you could see they were a good outfit.
"The noise will come because we're not winning so how do you break that trend? I've changed the formation, changed the players and changed the shape and everyone has had a go.
"Maybe young Sol Solomon we could have given a bit more and we know that but everyone's had a go and everyone has to stand up and be counted.
"Sometimes it's fine margins and the margins are against us at the moment but all I'm interested in is the good of the football club as a player, as a fan and as a manager.
"I don't want the fans to be outraged at the moment because it's not nice for anyone but I get it and I understand it.
"The players are working hard and we're trying to find a way to win and if you keep working had eventually it turns your way."
As for ex-Rovers boss Mellon he was ecstatic to see the Latics reach round two for the first time in four seasons.
“It was so emotional because I have so many memories here,” said Mellon of this happy return.
“I wanted to come and win but my respect for Tranmere will never go away, as will be the case for Oldham.
“When I take over a club I am all in and give them everything I have got.
“I said to him (Norwood) ‘we are football romantics and wouldn’t it be good if you can go back and get yourself a goal’.
“It wasn’t just a good result, it was a terrific performance. We lost the early goal but we we kept going and looked a strong side all the way through.
“But the League is our priority. The Football League needs a club of our size and needs a support like we provide. It is up to us to try and fight to deliver that.”
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