Steve Hunter reports from Prenton Park

UNDER-FIRE owner of Tranmere and Everton, Peter Johnson, returns home from a holiday in the West Indies on Saturday with everyone at Prenton Park hoping he brings an end to the uncertainty surrounding the sale of the Wirral club as soon as possible.

A twist to the uncertainty continued last week with Football League officials saying they were unaware Mr Johnson had decided to take a vacation to the West Indies and they were none the wiser when the long drawn out sale will take place. Under Football League rules no one can own two clubs.

On the field, Tranmere manager John Aldridge was furious with his side letting a two goal lead slip to lose 3-2 to Sheffield United at Prenton Park on Saturday.

It was Rovers' third successive defeat after the midweek home 1-0 defeat by promotion chasing Birmingham City.

Rovers travel to Edgeley Park on Saturday to face Stockport County and Mr Aldridge said: "You will see a gritty performance like you've never seen before from Tranmere Rovers.

"The season's not over at all and there's a lot of pride at stake. We're still not safe and we won't be if we play like we did on Saturday again.

"The lads have had their crash helmets on and working hard in training. If the other lads don't want to work as they can do they'll get a shock no matter how experienced. I can't take that. We were far too quiet on Saturday and the experienced lads let the youngsters down."

Mr Aldridge was contemplating changes for the Stockport match, but his cause hasn't exactly been helped by injuries and suspensions. Graham Allen serves a one game ban and Clint Hill is likely to miss two after meeting the FA disciplinary committee this afternoon.

On top of that, Liam O'Brien and Gary Jones are unlikely to figure, Mr Aldridge reported Georges Santos is struggling with his groin and Alan Mahon was struggling after a series of heavy challenges by Sheffield United players on Saturday.

Mahon was excellent and scored a brilliant goal in a poor team display. His long range shooting brought some superb saves from United goalkeeper Simon Tracey. Clint Hill scored Tranmere's first goal.

Finally, Mr Aldridge's emotional call to the Wirral public to go along to Prenton Park and support Tranmere appears to be falling on deaf ears. A large Birmingham following last Tuesday night boosted the gate to 7,187, while for the visit of Sheffield United the crowd totalled 6,588, of which between 1,500-2,000 had travelled from Yorkshire.

On that evidence, if anything, the level of home support remains unchanged . . .

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