Tranmere Rovers
An open letter to Mark Palios
Pen to paper
By David Sindall
February 2 2025
Dear Mark, I hope you’re feeling better and that you have some of your strength back for the months ahead. Our football club is in an extremely difficult situation and the future of our club is uncertain. The status quo cannot continue. We know that.
I don’t want your period as Chairman to end in relegation back to the National League. This would be a sad end to your positive contribution to the club, not just as a chairman but also as a player. You have been graceful and courteous in both roles, someone I have admired.
I use the term ‘our football club’ knowing full well that it is you and Nicola who carry the financial risk. My investment in the club is emotional, albeit if I sat down and worked out what that emotion had cost me it would amount to many thousands of pounds over more years than a wise man would tolerate. Yet you know and have always espoused the fact that the supporters are a vital part of the Tranmere set up. I feel we can call it our club, it’s something you have always understood.
It doesn’t take a genius to see that the players and supporters no longer have faith in Nigel Adkins’ ability to rescue us from our current predicament. Nigel is a decent man. Most supporters recognise this. I know in my career I have often had to make hard decisions about people who I like. These are painful decisions because they go against one of the core values I think we both share, loyalty. Yet, sooner or later, there is loyalty to the broader community, to the greater interest. Removing people from roles they can’t perform in is a painful choice but unavoidable. It’s part of leadership.
Other people will emerge who can take the helm at Rovers but I hope you will take the opportunity to ensure that a good quality interim manager is appointed who can secure our place in the EFL between now and the end of April. We still have some good players, they just aren’t being used to their maximum effect. Staying in this division will be a struggle but it’s not an impossible task.
None of us know how many years lie ahead of us, too few to do all that we want. To our dying breaths we will always be Tranmere supporters. I will always be grateful for the dedication and stewardship you and Nicola have brought to the club and know that the current situation is hurting. We as supporters share that pain. Yet now is the time for change.
With all good wishes
David Sindall
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02/02/2025 04:56
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Firstly I'm not convinced they were ever in this for the club, I think as is his business model they saw a quick buck to be made, which is where it started going wrong. Assuming a quick re-hash if the assets and a lick of paint when they got the keys things were much worse than anticipated.
I don't doubt they have sunk considerable percentage of their own wealth in but what benefit have we seen where jt matters on the pitch?
Answer none , its all for the benefit of the final sale price.
10 years in and we've seen as many managers as the decade & stare down the barrel of loosing league status for a second time.
Much of the heartache and difficult decisions on the manager merry go round are self inflicted wounds, sending managers to gun fights with knives and one hand tied behind their back and in some cases 2 hands.
Constant manager changes all cost money. They talk about sustainability on the field, whats the total bill on the sackings running at I wonder? I can't help but wonder if they'd just spent that on the squads would the sackings have ever come?
From Day 1 a lot of fans like myself saw the writing on the wall when they started decorating lounges.
Ultimately the biggest income is what we the fans put in the till through the gates on match days via tickets.
The elephants been in the mainstand for sometime now but mist couldn't ser past Penn and Tellers smoke mirrors.
Failing to read the room and secure the likes of James Norwood on 4 or 5 year deals has cost them finically with loss of transfer fees. Trying to mount an on field challenge with has beens and rejects , We got to league 1 via the NL amd failed to invest to stay there., blaming Rick Parry and PPG!
Just look how many of the promising up and comings we signed iver the years are now playing well outside the league pyramid if playing at all and all those suck notes we signed says all you need their.
This has resulted in ever dwindling gate receipts and a slow slide back to what could well prove to be the end of the club if we drop into the NL while the owners chant "Don't look into my eyes look around them your under" . With loans from Smurthwaite secured on the ground.
All in all for me its a decade of abject failure resulting in one of the most toxic environments we've seen with the young men and there families who play for us being abused along with managers owners and fans as we stare down the barrel. The owners continue to play the fiddles whilst we burn.
If the takeover goes through Ill eat my hst, personally I think we are looming at simmer administration which ever league we are in, And with the secured loan from Smurtwaite In a couple of years we'll be driving past what was once PP with a housing estate on the land while we drive to watch AFC Rovers playing on Plymyards.
So Mark and Nicola, thanks very much!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:02:02:06:43:06 by Bored rover.
I myself before covid was seeing the warning signs.
The interest of the board was expanding non football interests, rather than the actual football side of the business. While trying to find investment for pie in the sky future and necessary work within the infrastructure of the club. The football budget and quality of recruitment withered away.
The overall decision making has been nothing short of logical thinking for a professional club.
And it does coincide with the lack of public appearances since covid.
Don't think MP has been on sky sports news for about four to five years.
Maybe I'm wrong about that, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Anyway I think it's a disgrace the way he has let the club decline under his stewardship and in many ways he is responsible for the current abuse of the players and manager.
As far as I understand the club asks the players to sign (they don't app!y to adverts ) but very few have improved since they arrived which points to the standard of coaching.
The balance of the squad has been all over the place for years and very few leaders have been recruited which leaves any manager in charge facing an uphill battle.
Most fans have been aware of the failings on the football side of the club for years yet the person in charge who should have a greater knowledge having been a player, an f .a. official and a top business leader has failed to see what has been happening or has ignored it in in the pursuit of dealing in real estate.
In my view he has failed to protect his employees as well as letting the fans down.
rank over and sorry if I lost the plot but .....🙄
