Players due to keep sharp over summer

May 7 2008 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE’S footballers can’t expect to put their feet up for very long this summer. While the start of pre-season training for the 2008-09 campaign is almost two months away, manager Ronnie Moore plans to keep his players active during the break.

They will be expected to report back to Prenton Park for regular fitness sessions with physio Les Parry.

Moore says the summer work-outs will be of particular value to Chris Shuker and Steve Davies, the two wingers who spent much of last season under treatment for serious knee injuries.

Moore said: “Les and I have spoken about what we want to do with the players, fitness-wise, during the close season. There are some who will be coming in, not to be battered with hard work but to keep them sharp.

“Some players look at it as a punishment but it’s not that. Most of them understand it for the right reasons, that will benefit them as individuals and the team.”

Moore admits the days when a professional footballer could indulge himself by spending the summer on beaches and in bars are long gone.

He said: “Players today are so much more professional in their approach to how they live. They are careful about what they eat and drink and keep themselves in decent shape, even outside the season.

“Not every footballer is a health freak. There are one or two who still have the 1980s mentality. You have to get to know who they are and get into their ribs about it.”

Much of the summer work will be gymnasium-based and under the supervision of Parry.

Moore added: “It means the players should be at a decent level of fitness when they do come back for the start of pre-season training early in July.

“It means we can get them into the sprints and hill climbs quicker, without them suffering muscle pulls and tears.”

Davies spent six months of this season in recovery from surgery to a cruciate ligament injury. Shuker was out of action for the best part of three months with a knee injury. The pair returned to first-team duty only in the final weeks of this season.

Davies may be doing is summer work-outs elsewhere. A number of clubs are reported to be showing an interest in the 20-year-old prospect, who is out of contract at Prenton Park.

Moore continues to work on preparations and plans for next season even though there is no official word from the club on whether his contract and that of assistant Peter Shirtliff are to be renewed.

The Tranmere squad will be together for their traditional end of season day out at Chester Races this week. While they study the odds on the course, Rovers fans may be taking bets among themselves on which of those players will still be at Prenton Park in August.

Six senior professionals – Robbie Stockdale, Shane Sheriff, Paul McLaren, Steve Jennings, John Mullin and Davies – will be out of contract next month.

Players to be released by the club should know their fate by the weekend. Some of those offered new deals may turn down the terms Rovers are able to afford in the hope of picking up a better offers elsewhere.

Moore said: “I have got to speak to the players we need to release. Like every manager at this time of year it’s not nice to tell people they are leaving the club. But at this level of the game you have to let people go to finance changes in the squad for the new season.”

Rovers, without the benefit of substantial income from transfers or cup runs for two years, may have to tighten the purse strings this summer.

Tranmere meanwhile continue to make no public comment on revelations in last week’s Daily Post that they have been in talks about a potential takeover with Portuguese group Best Holdings.