Tranmere have confirmed that first team coach Andy Crosby will take charge of the team for this Saturday’s match against his former employers, Port Vale.
Following Nigel Adkins’ exit from Prenton Park on Tuesday night, Crosby has been tasked with taking over on an interim basis while Rovers search for a new boss.
It’s an interesting quirk of fate. Crosby had been a trusted assistant of Adkins in many previous jobs and was brought to Tranmere in December to try and help Adkins turn around the mess he had created. That didn’t work, to say the least.
Crosby has had a spell as a manager in his own right previously. He was assistant to Darrel Clarke at Port Vale during the 2021/22 season and took over as acting manager in February 2022 when Clarke sadly had to take an extended leave of absence.
Crosby helped continue Vale’s fine season, culminating in promotion via the play-offs. After Clarke was sacked by Vale in April 2023, Crosby was appointed interim manager before eventually being named permanent successor to Clarke for the 2023/24 season. He lasted less than a year before being dismissed himself in February 2024.
It adds an interesting subplot to Saturday’s match, another must-win for Rovers following the latest debacle on Tuesday evening.
The consensus among Tranmere fans is that Crosby’s appointment as interim manager needs to be simply that – interim. A fresh face from outside the club seems vital if Rovers are to have any chance of maintaining their EFL status.
