Tranmere Rovers Next Manager: Former Player Lowe Bookies Pick

A lot of punters get excited when they see an odds-on price, which Ryan Lowe is right now. It’s important to remember what drives the odds in a managerial search though and it’s not always a sign of the real world. In the case of Lowe’s link with Tranmere, it could be a case of punters adding two and two but coming up with five.

On the surface, you can see why too. Geography helps with Lowe being born and raised in Liverpool whilst he also represented Tranmere during his playing career. He also ticks the box of being a proven manager in the lower leagues.

Lowe impressed in his first managerial job in League Two earning rave reviews at Bury before going on to achieve a promotion with Plymouth. A leap into the Championship with Preston followed where the Lilywhites achieved three midtable finishes before Lowe left his job after the first game week of the current season.

The issue we have is that Lowe has been linked with other Championship jobs and a move to the SPL since leaving Deepdale. This Tranmere job would be a big backwards step.

Current Tranmere Rovers assistant manager Neil Danns is another name that features highly in the bookmakers odds. Like Lowe, he clearly has links with the club. Obviously, he’s there now and he has previously donned their colours as a player.

The EFL journeyman does also have experienced in management having enjoyed a successful, albeit short, period in charge at Macclesfield. Danns put up a 71% win ratio for the Silkmen before jumping ship for his current role at Tranmere.

An enormous question mark over this potential appointment though is the fact that Danns isn’t the man in interim charge; that would suggest that 3/1 is a price that is far too short.

With no appointment seemingly imminent at Prenton Park, an 8/1 price on the current caretaker to get the job is not a bad shout. Crosby has an extensive coaching career behind him, much of it coming under Adkins, and whilst his limited time as a first team manager doesn’t present as a roaring success, a result or two over the coming week will surely see his odds shorten.

The doubts that sit with this link are largely covered above. Crosby has been loyal to Adkins throughout his career whilst he’s not exactly endeared to the Rovers fanbase having only joined the club’s coaching setup in December. Then, on top of that, when the 51-year-old has had a little taste of being the man to call the shots, he’s largely flattered to deceive.

Leam Richardson is another name in the frame for the Tranmere Rovers managerial vacancy. Richardson had a terrible time in his last job managing a measly 8% win ratio at then Championship side Rotherham but, prior to that, the former Accrington Stanley stalwart enjoyed a great time in the Wigan hotseat.

He took over the Latics at a difficult time, guided them to League One safety before propelling them to promotion the next season. Again, Richardson failed to deliver in the second tier.

With a poor track record in the Championship, Richardson isn’t likely to be flooded with job offers from that league or those at the top end of the third tier. As such, an offer from Tranmere could appeal. With Richardson’s exposure to lower league football, Tranmere may well fancy sounding him out.