TRANMERE manager Nigel Adkins has said he is "pleased" with his squad after a quiet transfer deadline day saw no arrivals or departures at Prenton Park.

It was a quiet 24 hours across the EFL where spending during the window fell to £15m compared to £25m in January 2023.

And Adkins said he was content to continue the rest of the season with the players who have sparked a revival in Rovers' fortunes in recent months. 

"I'm really happy with the squad of players we've got said," said Adkins. "We've got a great togetherness and we're building something.

"It's important not to destruct what you've got and we're building which is a clear message for everybody. When you get to such a late stage in the window, nine times out of ten they turn out to be a bad deal so from our point of view we're very happy with the players we've got. I'm really pleased with where we are at the moment.

"We're in a good place. Everybody is engaged, everybody is speaking to each other and there are smiles on faces. We have a really good environment where people can learn and from my point of view I'm really pleased with it all. I just wish it was the start of the season and not where the season is at this moment in time."

Rovers have won five of their last six league games on home turf, as their climb up the table has picked up momentum. 

"We've been on a consistent run of form," said Adkins. "If you keep going from window to window bringing in ten players each time it doesn't work and you're all over the place. 

"We have got some really good, talented players here with exceptional attitudes and from my point of view it's about how we can harness that and build a team. 

"We're all ready talking about pre-season, we're already talking about summer targets and what are strategy is moving forward for the next season."

High-flying Crewe visit Tranmere on Saturday with the visitors unbeaten in their last three on the road as their pursuit of promotion continues.

"We know it's going to be challenging," said Adkins. "There will be good vocal support for both teams and it's a game I'm looking forward to. They're riding high in the division but we've looked at them and done some good work on the training ground and some good work in the classroom so we are aware of some of the threats they've got. They're up the top of the league for a reason and we have to be mindful of that but likewise we are in a good run of form - we're playing good football and we're consistently hard to play against.

"Crewe have played a certain way for a long period of time - they will want to play out from the back but they can play forward and land on the second balls and they've got threats.

"We did really well last weekend away from home to get our victory. I'm trying to make sure we have an identity - I want us to have a compact shape and press aggressively as a team but I also want us to be a side that excites people and is exciting to watch. I'm a fan and I want to be on the edge of my seat knowing the lads are trying to win the one on one duels and trying to stick collectively together."

Adkins added that he is going into the Crewe game with a relatively injury free group of players to pick from.

He added: “I'm really pleased that Jéan Belehouan has been out this morning doing some real good running around on the training ground, and so is Luke Norris as well. Jake Leake will be a bit longer, but he's in a good place.”