TRANMERE Rovers' manager Les Parry has admitted his first full season in charge was harder than he imagined.

Mr Parry, who took Rovers to 18th on the League One table with 56 points, signed a new one-year deal with the club this week and is already planning next season.

During his final press conference of the season this morning the club's former physio, who was appointed manager last June, admitted the last nine months had been tough.

"It's probably been a little bit harder than I thought it was, but that's probably because of the start we made which may have put a little bit more pressure on.

"Let's hope next season I find out what it's like at the other end of the table to see if that's any easier.

"When I was a physio, fans thought that the job was just about running onto pitch on a Saturday.

"But those 90 minutes a week hide the 60 hours a week that go into preparing the team for it.

"The amount of games you have to take in during the week as well as your own team’s is also huge.

"The staff and I are out almost every night watching games and looking for players.

"You wake up each day and the first thing you worry about is whether certain players are going to be fit and which players you should pick.

"It's not physically challenging, it's a mentally challenging job. My staff have been great."

He said staff and player budgets remain the same. "With budgets staying the same it sounds like we’ll be in the same. But there are whispers that a lot of clubs around the same size as us are going to be cutting their budgets quite drastically.

"So, although we're not moving, other clubs' budgets will be moving towards ours, which will be positive."

It was announced in February that Chicago-based Club-9 Sports was in negotiation with club chairman Peter Johnson about a possible take-over.

Negotiations continue.

Parry said: "I honestly haven't got a clue what's happening. I'm assuming, rightly or wrongly, that it's dead because I've not even heard a whisper for a long time.

"I've been wrong a lot of times before and let's hope I'm right this time. I quite like having Peter Johnson in charge, so I'd be stupid to want change.

"It would nice to know for certain that any takeover negotiations are dead and, hopefully, we’ll know for certain soon.

"I appreciate that the chairman is looking to sell the club and, hopefully, a multi-millionaire who's local and has got the club at heart is out there and waiting to take the reins."

It was announced on Tuesday that Rovers' players Aaron Cresswell, Adam McGurk, Mark McChrystal and Lucas Akins, while loanees Robbie Weir and Michael Kay have been offered permanent contracts. The club is also in discussions with Andy Robinson and Tony Warner.

Waiting for the contracts to be accepted by the players Parry said: "There's been a lot of interest in Aaron Cresswell, for example, so we'll have to wait and see what he decides to do.

“We've had a chat and made offers, so all we can hope is that no-one comes in with a better offer.

Paying tribute to the club's fans, he said: "They have been brilliant and I think it's reflected in the fact that season ticket sales have increased on last season.

"There have been times when they have given us a little bit of boo, which mostly we have deserved.

"Next year, when we get our home game right that won't happen.

"Our away fans have been just tremendous. There’s no other word for it."