Sale of Captain Marvel Irons eases financial 'critical list'

Steve Hunter reports from Prenton Park.

TRANMERE Rovers' immediate financial future is secure following the sale of influential captain Kenny Irons to fellow Nationwide Division One side Huddersfield Town.

Irons will be sold for a fee of £450,000 plus a further substantial sum if Steve Bruce's side gain promotion to the Premiership.

Irons, who was due to sign yesterday afternoon subject to a medical, progressed to Tranmere Rovers' first team from the respected Youth Development Scheme, and made his debut in December 1989 against Bury. Irons, top scorer for Rovers last season, fired 17 goals from midfield, and made over 400 appearances for Rovers.

While respecting Tranmere fans' disappointment regarding the sale, Tranmere's new Chief Executive Lorraine Rogers said the financial position was in such a critical state that the sale had to be done.

Said Ms Rogers: "This is not a deal we would have contemplated in any other circumstances but the Directors and the Manager had to put the club's survival before any other considerations.

"It is a huge relief that, in financial terms, we are now off the critical list. "We can look forward to the future with growing confidence. We will now be taking positive steps to bring in players under the Bosman ruling. We hope supporters will appreciate the reason behind the decision and give the club their whole hearted support. I can understand the fans disappointment if a player is sold but we can now guarantee first division football at Prenton Park next season. I've had contact with the Tranmere Rovers Supporters Association (TRSA) and want to continue this."

While Tranmere Directors and manager John Aldridge were "extremely reluctant" to release Kenny Irons, club officials say the offer was accepted only after all other avenues of raising a substantial sum of money, to offset the deficit caused by previous management at the club, had been exhausted.

Speaking about the sale of Irons, Allen Price, Chairman of the TRSA, said: "I suspect the majority of Tranmere supporters will be disappointed by the sale, but the priority is to make sure Tranmere survives over the next 12 months. Whilst we don't want to lose Kenny I'm prepared to put up with the sale, and hopefully it will mean we won't lose players like Alan Mahon now."

Don't rule out a return for Peter Johnson to Prenton Park either, after the Football League have asked the Wirral supremo to sell one of his interests in either Premiership club Everton or Tranmere before the start of the new season. Under football league rules no one can have an interest in two clubs.

Said Football League spokesman Chris Hull: "The League has told Tranmere they have until the start of the season to resolve this situation."

Miss Rogers said: "We have kept the league informed on a weekly basis, and we would like to see the situation resolved as soon as possible, but contrary to other reports we have been given no deadline date. Whether Peter comes back depends on whether Tranmere Rovers can be run as a business. Given the events of the last five years and what has happened I think he'd like it to be run efficiently. It's not all about cost cuttings and savings, and we have to make some investment."

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