Tranmere returned to pre-season training at the Campus yesterday, though the photo gallery on the club’s Facebook page didn’t give much indication as to where plans are up to. Or did it?
Current squad
Tranmere currently have 11 contracted players to our knowledge. These are Scott Davies, Liam Ridehalgh, George Ray, Manny Monthe, Sid Nelson, Peter Clarke, Kieron Morris, Stefan Payne, Corey Blackett-Taylor and Morgan Ferrier. Also, youngster Danny Walker-Rice was offered (and presumably signed) a one-year deal as a pro.
Where is Corey Blackett-Taylor?
Of those listed above, just about all of them featured in the gallery the club posted on Facebook. The one exception seemed to be Corey Blackett-Taylor. Having gone through the images, he was not in any that were published. That could simply be an oversight or there may be innocent reasons for him not training, but with such a small squad, it seems unlikely anyone would not make it on to at least one of the 38 photos published.
He has been one of the names linked with moves away from the club this summer, so it certainly won’t dampen the speculation.
No Woodyard
Alex Woodyard has been heavily linked with joining Tranmere, and it is still our belief – as per our story a couple of weeks ago – that he will join the club. However, the lack of any new faces is not surprising at this stage given the uncertainty about a salary cap and the season restart.
No Mark Ellis, Ollie Banks, etc.
Tranmere have a load of players out of contract this summer, including Ollie Banks, Jake Caprice, David Perkins and Mark Ellis. There has been no news on whether they will be offered terms and pictures on social media recently suggested Banks had been doing some fitness work on his own. Caprice is heavily linked with a move to Exeter City.
Again, none of this means that no contracts have been offered or even verbally agreed, but perhaps just that Rovers cannot hand out contracts just yet.
Resigned to League Two?
Sadly, with every passing week it looks more and more likely that any fight against the club’s unjust demotion from League One has failed or been abandoned. Preparation must look at next season at some point, and with time running out until the EFL’s proposed restart, it looks like the EFL and those responsible will get away with it.
