Keith Hill says Morgan Ferrier exit 'right thing to do'

The 26-year-old centre forward has joined Israeli Premier League side Maccabi Petah Tikva for an undisclosed fee.

Despite 15 appearances for Tranmere this season, many from the substitutes' bench, Ferrier recently fell out of favour with Hill and has not been included in any of their recent match day squads.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference this morning, ahead of Rovers' trip to Grimsby Town this weekend, Hill said: "Obviously Morgan was concerned that he wasn't getting enough football on a regular basis.

"I think the potential for the move materialised a couple of weeks ago and he expressed a desire. Legitimately, the deal could go through to leave and take up a new adventure.

"As a manager, I listened to his concerns and once the move became a real possability I thought it was the right thing to do for the football club and for Morgan.

"It's just football business. He's represented Tranmere and now he goes onto a new footballing adventure."

Keith Hill held his pre-match press conference ahead of the tip to Grimsby on Friday morning

With the January arrivals of veteran striker David Nugent and Wigan youngster Charlie Jolley, Ferrier's exit does not leave Tranmere short in terms of attacking options, but Hill accepts that doesn't mean the transition in personnel is seamless.

He said: "The new players that have come in, they've got to catch up to speed quickly. We're chasing promotion and everybody's being judged on can they help us now in the 19 games that we've got.

"While we've been wining games we've been scoring a lot of goals as well. I think the last time we had a nil for was Stevenage away and it was repeated on Tuesday night.

"But we've scored a lot of goals and we want the new players to catch up quickly so they can make an impact.

"I'm really pleases with where we are - the squad that we've got, the strength and depth as we approach the remaining league fixtures and the cup game on Tuesday."

If Rovers' midweek loss to Stevenage was a surprise, the expectation will be no less from supporters tomorrow, when they face rock-bottom Grimsby Town.

The Mariners are in dismal form and are without a league win since December 19 last year, not that it seems Hill has been paying them too much attention until now.

"I'm oblivious to other football clubs," he said. "I didn't know where they were in the league, if I'm being honest with you. That's not me being ignorant to what the league table is.

"I'm just looking at us, what we can do and what have to do better.

"I've been in a position at a football club, similar to Grimsby and you're looking for positives to try and improve your opportunities to win games.

"But going into Saturday we are (still) in good form and there is a certain standard that the players have proven they can acheive and if we achieve that standard in our performances then we win football matches."

Tranmere will have a full squad of players to choose from for the match against Grimsby. Midfielder Liam Feeney has recovered from the head injury that he sustained in training and is available for selection.

With Ferrier now out of the picture, the Globe asked the Tranmere boss if Corey Blackett-Taylor, another player who has been missing from recent match day squads, still has a future at the club.

Hill said: "Everybody has an opportunity. Never ruled anyone out. There's a talented player there and when necessary he'll be involved. It's as simple as that. I think you're excluding Mark Ellis from that as well.

"When you've got players in the building who've obviously got quality you never rule players out. You'd be so stupid as a manager to do that."