TRANMERE Rovers are now just three matches away from snatching a place in the Nationwide League Division One end-of-season Play-Offs - and a possible Wembley springboard to the cash-laced Premier League (writes Steve Hunter).

Rovers' fans everywhere were keeping their fingers crossed that after Saturday's tremendous 3-1 victory at promotion rivals Portsmouth, John Aldridge's men could get a result in last night's re-arranged visit to Birmingham City to set up a real 'six pointer' clash at Prenton Park this Saturday against Howard Kendall's Sheffield United (kick-off 3pm).

Former England manager, now Australian World Cup coach, Terry Venables, who is also chairman of Portsmouth, declared Tranmere "the best footballing side to visit Fratton Park in the League this season" - a fine compliment from the man who led the national team to within a penalty kick of last season's European Championship Final.

Rovers were inspired by the new-look attack of Gary and Lee Jones, who silenced the Pompey chimes by both scoring, assisted by the opening goal from Paul Cook.

A win last night at Birmingham would take Tranmere into the Play-off zone.

Assistant manager Ray Mathias believes Rovers are working harder than ever to fight for a Play-Off place. He told me: "The lads have done brilliantly, working very hard and are going for it. The win against Portsmouth has given the lads a lot of confidence, and it's nice when someone like Terry Venables says that we are the best team Portsmouth have faced at home in the League. On the day, we were tactically excellent and could have scored a lot more than we did."

Sheffield United is another difficult game. They have spent a lot of money on players like Jan Fjortoft, who is always a threat. But it just shows what a good set of lads we've got here - they can see some light at the end of the tunnel."

Speaking of Howard Kendall, how about him making an unexpected return to the Everton hotseat next season? Eagle eyed reader, and Manchester United supporter, Paul Murphy, who lives in Bidston, telephoned the Globe to say he and his father spotted the Sheffield United manager last Wednesday week negotiating the somewhat confusing entrance into Park Food Group in Valley Road, Bidston - the company owned by Everton chairman Peter Johnson.

Was Mr Kendall holding secret talks or was it just a case of mistaken identity? Despite our attempts to place a friendly bet, no bookies would take any bets about who will be the Everton manager next season.

When Globe Sport spoke with Mr Kendall, he said: "I was on Merseyside, but nowhere near Park Foods!"

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.