THE CAREER of Rovers manager Ronnie Moore hangs in the balance after he was suspended by the club until an investigation is completed into a potential breach of betting rules.

On Monday evening, Tranmere announced that the suspension would be with immediate effect while the Football Association conducts its inquiry.

On Friday it emerged that the game's governing body wanted to speak to the 61-year-old Rovers boss over claims surrounding a competition in which Tranmere are involved.

Moore took charge of Tranmere on Saturday in the 2-2 draw at Bristol City, and conducted his press conference ahead of the game at Crawley on Tuesday night.

The club confirmed assistant manager John McMahon has been placed in temporary charge of first team affairs.

Rovers had published a statement before the weekend's Bristol City game saying: "Tranmere Rovers Football Club are aware of media reports regarding Ronnie Moore.

"As this is an ongoing matter the club will make no further comment at this time."

The club again said it will be making no further comment until the outcome of the investigation.

Moore played for Rovers in the 1970s and 1980s and made almost 300 appearances for the club before becoming assistant manager to John King.

He originally signed for Rovers in ‘71 and made his debut as a defender.

It was King - the most successful manager in Tranmere's history - who decided the Liverpudlian would be better suited to a striking role and he was rewarded when Moore netted 34 goals in the 1975-76 season.

After being transferred to Cardiff City for a club record fee of £120,000, Moore eventually returned to Prenton Park in 1986.

He was temporarily manager for three months following the departure of Frank Worthington and later became player-coach under John King's second spell in charge of the club.

He was promoted to the role of assistant manager and helped Tranmere to promotion from Division Three to Division One and five appearances at Wembley Stadium, including the Division Two Play-Off Final win over Bolton Wanderers.

In 1997, he took charge at Rotherham United, guiding them to successive promotions from Division Three to Division One on a shoestring budget.

After leaving Rotheram in February 2005, he was quickly appointed Oldham manager and helped them secure safety in season 2004-05 before guiding them to 10th position last season, failing by six points to reach the play-offs.

Moore left Prenton Park in 2009, having been within two minutes of achieving a place in the play-offs in his final season. He was re-appointed in March 2012, after the club parted company with Les Parry.

• In December of last year Tranmere Rovers players Akpo Sodje and Ian Goodison were among six people arrested as part of a football spot-fixing investigation.

That investigation is being carried out by the National Crime Agency.

No-one has yet been charged.