John Barnes on the brink as Tranmere plummet.

Usually the lower divisions offer calmer seas for managers to negotiate. Away from the cash rich goldfish bowl of the Premier League, fans and chairman are more sympathetic to the restrictions placed on lower league managers.

But given that Bryan Gunn was sacked less than a week into the new campaign those days appear to be numbered. Certainly in League One, which looks like being at it’s most competitive for years.

If Gunn was fired after one heavy defeat then new Tranmere boss John Barnes must be really feeling the heat.

To say they have made a bad start is to put it mildly. Five defeats out of six have left Rovers second bottom and the fans restless with the news of their ever increasing football odds of relegation.

While keen to give Barnes a chance they remain puzzled as to why former boss Ronnie Moore, a man used to working within lower league budgets, was let go in the first place, especially after a respectable finish last season, when only an 88th minute header from Scunthorpe’s Cliff Byrne nudged the Iron ahead of Tranmere in the play-off places.

Faced with another year in football league One and further budget cuts Moore was sacked ,with the club citing falling attendances as one of the reasons behind it.

From the outside it looks like the Tranmere board have put their faith in Barnes’ reputation from his playing days, where he was one of the best midfielders of his generation. This would then inspire the players to greater heights and encourage the fans to return to Prenton Park to watch Barnes’ young charges strut their stuff.

Barnes’ immediate problem was lowering the wage bill as further budget cuts were made and he has been forced to trim the squad. This meant it was a very youthful looking Rovers side that took to the field at Yeovil’s Huish Park on August 8. But five defeats on the spin with 12 conceded and none scored have left the fans baying for blood

To be fair to Barnes the club have had to play many of the top sides. But it is the manner of those defeats that have hurt the fans the most and they have begun to question Barnes’ ability to turn it around.

Sadly I feel Tranmere have gone for the glamour option in a bid to win back the fans but have lost sight of the realities of league one, which is tougher than ever this year.
Great players don’t always make great managers and unless we see a dramatic turn around, I think we may have to add Barnes to that list.