Currently 12th in the national league, no real prospect of getting promotion. Half way position when half way through the season.

What on earth is going wrong? Nearly every change of manager has brought a bit of new life into the team, then it starts sliding again.

Will they head upwards or slide further down from here?

Money, simple as that. The only way teams make rapid progress is a financial backer. Getting people through the ranks of youth teams takes a few years. Mind you Man U with annual income of £421 million have spent a heck of a lot and now Van Gaal says their glory days are over. A shocking statement and really appears to be his get out clause. Serves Man U fans right after the way they treated Moyes who spent very little. Back to Tranmere it is hard to see them making a rapid rise up the leagues and the longer they are away the harder it must be to get back into the Fourth division. Harder to attract decent players and then fans disappear, a vicious circle.

Yes, but this is national league (4th league), money isn't great for most teams in that league.

They seemed to have suffered a bad time since the council stopped sponsorship, and the bad publicity regarding the sale of the Memorial fields didn't do them any favours, maybe an omen who knows?

Well, after I'd written Tranmere off, they seem to be back in the running, especially with Dover and Macclesfield losing form, Tranmere stand a chance of being in the play-offs.

However, in the play-offs will probably be either Forest Green or Cheltenham who are both on cracking form this season, then Grimsby is also in the running if they continue with their improvement.

You never know.

Tranmere wins against Torquay, Dover and Macclesfield nose diving leaving Tranmere in 5th place, just sneaking into the play-off zone.

Eastleigh have been losing form as well so Tranmere stand a chance of passing them next when they play Southport.

The other top three (Forest Green, Cheltenham and Grimsby) are looking strong despite Grimsby's loss against Gateshead.

A 1-0 win against Southport puts Tranmere fourth in the league after 4 wins in a row.

Tranmere didn't quite make it to the playoffs. They got some good scores against the top teams and some abysmal results against other teams much lower in the league.

They have a new club record of 12 undefeated away matches (which may be increased). This is a really strange statistic, most seasons Tranmere have played better away than at home, there have been massive changes to the managers, players, trainers and the ground but this trend still happens.