Prenton Park’s genial supremo opens his heart to Matchday.
What was your first job in football? As first-team coach at Tranmere Rovers working alongside Ron Yeats in 1973.
What other career would you have pursued if this hadn’t worked out? I was training to be a gas fitter/plumber before entering football, so I would have gone back to that.
Who was your childhood idol? Denis Compton, Stanley Matthews and the great Tom Finney.
Which other manager do you most admire and why? One manager had a great influence on me during my formative years — the late, great Bill Shankly.
What advice would you give to someone starting in management? Serve your time and learn from others before going for a boss’s job, but you have to be a leader.
What is your greatest memory as a player? Making my debut for Everton at Preston North End and being patted on the head and wished all the best by a player I had idolised — Tom Finney.
What is your greatest memory as a manager? There have been so many. Taking Northwich Victoria to Wembley, taking Tranmere to promotions and Cup glory. I’ve been very lucky.
Where would you like to be in five years’ time? With Tranmere, as an established Premiership side.
What has been the most dramatic change since you became a manager? The constant alteration of the laws every season. For 100 years the rules remained the same but now there’s something new every year.
What single change would you like to see? The rules of the game left alone and greater consistency by referees.
Which — apart from Tranmere’s — is your favourite ground in your division? The last one we won at. I have no favourites in the First Division, but always enjoy returning to my first club, Everton.
Who do you rate as one of the most exciting prospects at your club? We have several lads who could make it big in the game, but I wouldn’t like to single one out.
Who do you rate as one of the most exciting prospects in your division? There are several, but the boy Stubbs and his mate McAteer at Bolton look useful.
How do you rate Ireland’s chances in the 1994 World Cup? They’ll do well hopefully, particularly if my striker, Aldo, gets the chances.
Name the most entertaining match you have ever seen. Tranmere 6 Newcastle 6 in the Zenith Data Systems Cup three seasons ago — we won 3–2 on penalties. What a game!
Which television programmes — if any — do you regularly watch? I never see TV. Occasionally, I’ll watch the football if I’m in, otherwise it’s Teletext to check on games, results and news.
How do you relax? Walking my dog Prince along the Wirral coastline.