THE chairman of recently-promoted Tranmere Rovers has told people in Birkenhead the methods planned for improving the town are similar to those the club used to achieve last season’s success.

Mark Palios addressed Wirral council’s Birkenhead constituency committee on Wednesday after listening to how efforts are being made by various different groups, including the Business Improvement District (BID), to transform the fortunes of the town.

He said some of the methods and attitudes shown by the do-gooders and volunteers are 'similar' to what his staff are trying to do with Rovers.

Mr Palios, who took over the Prenton Park side in 2014, spoke about the May afternoon the club won promotion back into the Football League, when they beat Boreham Wood FC 2-1 in a nail-biting clash at Wembley.

He said: “I have a great belief that you should help yourselves and look after each other.

"On the day we got promoted, I was the calmest person at Wembley after 70 minutes, when we were drawing 1-1.

"I thought ‘they are not going to score – they don’t know how to break us down’.

“Things came together for two reasons. One – I hadn’t sacked the manager when everyone had told me to sack him, and two – he’s very good at tactics. He changed them late on.

“There’s a oneness to our team. After the 60th minute, we were flagging a little bit because playing with ten men is hard.

"Then the brilliant support from the fans came in and gave us a final push. That for me was fantastic – a coming together of everyone at the club.”

It came after he heard how efforts are on-going across Birkenhead to improve the area.

During the meeting at the Little Centre on the Beechwood estate in Bidston, the panel heard from groups such as the team behind the centre, who have given it a new lease of life by launching initiatives such as a community cafe, bingo groups and plans for a new playground.

The meeting also heard from the team behind the BID, which works for a cleaner, safer, more prosperous town with greater footfall.

Both initiatives were focussed on 'bringing people together', including attempting to recruit more volunteers.

Mr Palios, who brought the trophy along to the meeting, added: “It’s the same principle we’ve been talking about here. Rather than players complaining about another not controlling the ball properly, they pushed together, and got over the line.”

He said people stood next to their partners and wives that day 'and told me it was the best day of their lives', adding: “It happened by us working together, and a tremendous spirit around the club.

“When we went to work on Monday, the best thing for me was that people were proud of the club again. Somehow a football club galvanizes people and tells them they can do it for themselves.”