Mike Jackson sat down and spoke to the Club’s website for the first time after his appointment as first team manager at Tranmere Rovers Football Club.
Jackson, who has played an integral role in helping the Club win two promotions in recent years, alongside three trips to Wembley, can’t wait to get started in his new role, and emphasised the importance of the whole Club now sticking together.
The new manager discussed a number of points in his first interview.
On his appointment…
“It has been a hectic few days, but I am extremely proud to be sat here and to be given the opportunity to manager Tranmere Rovers Football Club.
“I am proud to manage a Club I have played for and worked at as part of the coaching staff. I can’t wait to get started.”
Objectives in his new role…
“We have had a lot of successful times in recent years and we have had some tough times too, but we have always bounced back together.
“We can’t wait to be back playing at Prenton Park and great to see the KOP full again. We know how much this Club means to the fans, and it is important, moving forward, we keep connecting with the fans.
“That will be one of our main focuses. As manager, I want to have a strong connection with you all, we can’t wait to see all of the supporters return and get started.
“After what has happened this year with the PPG, which broke my heart, but it is important now, as a Club, to come together and move forward.
“We can use that as a motivation moving forward and I think it is something the Club uses as a cause.
“We can use this, and it can be really powerful to help us, we need to stick together, but we have to use in the right way
“We will do everything we can to improve, and every decision we will make, we will ask the question, is this going to help improve Tranmere Rovers Football Club
We will be competitive in everything that we do.
The squad and our identity…
“We will have a strong team spirit within the squad. Everything we do is linked to the team, and we want to have players on board who can realise their ambitions through this team!
“We will be building a team that is built on the values of the people who support the Club.
“We have some very good players already in the building and they are great lads. I know their strengths and weaknesses already, and we will be working with them every day to help move this football club forwards.
“We will need some additions, the squad is short in some areas, and the players we bring in will be ones who are going to represent Tranmere properly.”
“The aim is to build on the good things that have already happened. We need to make sure we keep our identity, so everyone knows what Tranmere Rovers Football Club is all about.
“We have worked hard to build our identity over the last few years, but at the same time, we need to keep moving forward and improving as a football club.
Prenton Park and the fans…
“I know Prenton Park can be a real fortress. I only need to think back to some of the night games I played in when I was a player here, they were great times. It is important we use that and make sure it is not a nice place for opposition teams to come to.
“We have to make sure we are ready to fight, we will always be ready to go.
“The pitch looks unbelievable, especially considering the condition of it before lockdown, the work that has been done by the Chairman, Nicola Palios and the grounds team to get it sorted during these times, shows how much the Club is looking forwards.
“The fans have such an important role to play, and they have been fantastic with me during my two spells at the football club.
“I know what they expect from both a Tranmere player and a Tranmere manager, and I can say I will give everything I have to make sure we are successful together as a team!”