Ian Dawes insists that he is not thinking about his own uncertain future as he continues to hold the fort in readiness for the next Tranmere manager.

The Rovers Assistant Manager was put in charge of first team affairs alongside Academy Manager Andy Parkinson following the sacking of Mike Jackson on Saturday.

And Dawes could not have got off to a better start with Tranmere winning 1-0 away to Harrogate Town in what has been a challenging week already.

Speaking in a virtual press conference via video call, he said: “It’s been a really tough week. The lows of Saturday. Everyone was hurt in the changing room – the players and staff.

“Everyone was desperate for it to work out for the gaffer (Mike Jackson) and for the team to do well but unfortunately it never worked out like that and even Sunday everyone was in a low point.

“But football is what it is. We had to lift ourselves on Monday because we had a job to do on Tuesday.

“Players and staff came in on Monday. We worked on a few things and got it right for Tuesday."

Jackson ultimately with his job on the back of a poor run of results and performances but during that period he was never able to call upon a healthy squad of players.

Dawes said: "When everyone’s back a fit, which they are now barring Stefan (Payne), we know we’ve got a good squad.

“The big thing for us moving forward was, one – the players becoming a team on the pitch and look like a team both with and without the ball, and two – play a little bit more relaxed on the ball and try and enjoy it a bit more. Be bit more positive and try and create more chances, taking the game to the opposition more.”

“I think it’s the same in any industry. When you’re low on confidence and things aren’t working out, you go into a bit of a shell and you’re a little bit nervous in possession on the ball.

“You can make mistakes. One mistake leads to another mistake and before you know it everyone is giving the ball away on the pitch and getting down.

“I think the players realised on Tuesday that you’ve just have to get over that. They have to go and enjoy that game and go a play and if mistakes happen we’ve got to respond in a more positive manner.”

That Rovers now have an almost clean bill of health will be music to the ears of the Prenton Park faithful, who were purring at the sight of exciting forward Corey Blackett-Taylor tearing up the field on Tuesday evening at Harrogate.

This weekend Tranmere take a break from their stuttering league campaign to host Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup first round at Prenton Park.

Rovers won away to John Coleman's side in League One shortly before the 2019/20 season was suspended by coronavirus, but they now find a division between them.

Dawes added: "It's a fantastic competition where anything can happen and anything is possible.

"But Saturday I don't think is a game to fear from us. I don't think any of the players are feeling that way.

"We know that we've got to be at our best to go and win the game because Accrington are the type of team that if you don't turn up and do your best they'll go and hurt you.

"But I think that if we turn up with the right mentality we can take the game to them and go and get a result."

Dawes' own future at Prenton Park is hugely uncertain, with an incoming manager likely to bring his own right-hand man with him, but the former Blackpool coach insists that he is not thinking that far ahead for now.

He added: "I haven't really thought too much into it to be honest because football is a very uncertain industry so all I've done is keep in constant contact with the chairman and all I'm doing is focusing on the group of players and the team and getting them as prepared as they can be for the next game.

"That's all I can do. I can't think too far ahead. I can't think about myself and be selfish. I've got to think about what is best for this football club and the team.

"All that is, is the next game which is Saturday and (trying to) win that game of football. That's all I can do."

Tranmere Rovers v Accrington Stanley, FA Cup First Round, kicks off at 3pm on Saturday November 7 at Prenton Park. Keep up to date with the action by following the Globe's live match blog.