Tranmere Rovers have less than six weeks to rebuild their depleted squad after the English Football League announced when the 2020/21 season is due to start.

The first round of football fixtures in the Championship, League One and League Two will take place on the weekend of September 12-13.

That leaves Rovers, who were controversially relegated back to League Two on a Points Per Game (PPG) system after League One clubs voted to end their season early, with little time to shape a team that can be competitive in the fourth tier of English football next season.

Wirral Globe: James Vaughan is reported to be a Tranmere target for a permanent move. Photo: Tony CoombesJames Vaughan is reported to be a Tranmere target for a permanent move. Photo: Tony Coombes

Departures of loan players like James Vaughan, Andy Cook and Alex Woodyard were followed by the exit of fan's favourite and Wembley hero Connor Jennings, who moved to Stockport County at the end of his Prenton Park contract.

But efforts to rebuild have been further disrupted by manager Micky Mellon leaving club for Dundee United.

His former assistant Mike Jackson has now been appointed as first time manager but at the time of writing is yet to make a new signing, leaving some supporters fearful for what lies ahead.

One player thought to be interested in extending his stay at Prenton Park is striker Vaughan, who has since returned to his parent club Bradford City.

But as reported in the Bradford Telegraph & Argus, the Bantams are unlikely to offer Tranmere any financial favours, with the former Everton striker currently only one year into a three year contract at Valley Parade.

The Globe's Tranmere correspondent, Richard Garnett, appeared on the Tranmere podcast A Trip to the Moon last week alongside host Matt Jones and former City Talk producer Matty Houghton and conceded that the personnel changes and earlier-than-expected season start date might leave Rovers undercooked come September 12, but also called into question how clubs can be afford to get up and running again so quickly.

Wirral Globe: A Trip to the Moon host Matt JonesA Trip to the Moon host Matt Jones

He said: "There's a few questions that need to be answered. The two lower divisions in the football league have voted to end the season early because they can't afford to play, yet here we are six weeks away from the start of another one. Was there a vote on that?"

"I suppose the EFL will look at how many fixtures they need to get through. But it doesn't leave a lot of time, especially for a club in Tranmere's predicament.

"They've got a pretty small squad now - certainly not enough - and they've only just appointed a new manager.

"It doesn't give them a lot of time to sort things out and I'm sure they wouldn't publicly admit it but it wouldn't surprise me if they were amongst a number of clubs that actually went into the start of the season a little bit unprepared."

Popular with Rovers supporters, the A Trip to the Moon podcast has been relaunched after Matt Jones and Matty Houghton both left the Radio City tower following the closure of City Talk.

Also discussed during the recording was the burning injustice of Tranmere's relegation from League One.

New manager Mike Jackson spoke in his first interview since becoming first team manager about using the situation as a cause for the new season, but Globe reporter Garnett, who has covered the Prenton Park club since before their relegation from the football league more than five years ago, believes the is a danager of Rovers becoming defined by it.

He added: "I think it can be utilised as a force for good, but if Tranmere have a bad start to the season it could be very damaging if people just get stuck in the injustice of the relegation."

For more of Matt's' Tranmere podcasts, often with ex-players, visit: atriptothemoon.co.uk