TRANMERE manager Pete Wild admitted the fight to keep Tranmere in the English Football League has taken its toll after his side secured their League Two status with a tense 1-1 draw against Grimsby.
Nathan Smith cancelled out Justin Amaluzor’s opener to clinch Rovers a point at Prenton Park and ensure they avoided dropping into non-league football.
Rovers lost 17 of their last 22 matches of the season, with Wild in charge for the final 10 of those.
But the four points picked up in their last three games proved crucial as they finished two points above safety.
🔝 Nathan Smith with the towering header - his fifth and most important Rovers goal!
Match highlights: https://t.co/D3afAe2Lqf#TRFC #SWA pic.twitter.com/tIROf0Dkyp— Tranmere Rovers FC (@TranmereRovers) May 2, 2026
Wild said: “This has weighed heavily on me over the last six weeks.
“I could see it on faces, I could see it on the staff, the players and the fans how heavy this has weighed on them too.
“It’s been the toughest six weeks of my career and I’ve learned a lot about myself and what you need to do in these situations.
“I’m just so pleased for the fans, the staff and the players of this football club that they will be in League Two next season.
“I was asked to come in and do a job and we’ve been able to do that job with all the staff and we’ve got over the line. It wasn’t pretty but we found a way.
“There’s a lot that needs to be discussed and there’s a lot I feel needs to change and I have to decide if I am the right one.
“There’s a lot to consider and I think I just need to take stock of everything and the club needs to take stock of where they are at.
“This is a huge, huge, ship that needs to turn and it’s not turned yet.”
👏 Thank you for your support today and all season.
Attendance: 11,141 (1,935 away) #TRFC #SWA pic.twitter.com/GGDlE5Xhp9— Tranmere Rovers FC (@TranmereRovers) May 2, 2026
Wild added: "I could cry - I've done 330 football matches at this level and that today is my biggest achievement and the toughest test in football of them all.
"I'm so proud that I've been able to deliver for the fans. This club has a lot of stuff that it needs to change to be better and move in a different direction.
"There needs to be some patience along the way because these things don't change quickly unless you've got buckets full of cash like MK Dons. It's whether people have the understanding to allow things to change slowly and gradually."
