Mahon's Tranmere Return Was a Stalled Fairytale......

Following the news earlier today that Alan Mahon has departed the Club for a second time having had his contract cancelled by mutual consent, Mark Ridgway looks back as his stalled second spell with Rovers......

They say never go back but in the last twelve months, Kenny Dalglish and Darren Ferguson have torn that cliché into shreds.

Turn back the clock two years andBurnley had achieved promotion into the Premier League and midfielder Alan Mahon, entering the twilight of his career was seen a surplus to requirements.  Step forward Tranmere Rovers where the Irishman began his career, now under an exciting new regime with John Barnes and Jason McAteer. It seemed a match made in heaven, and Mahon signed a highly ambitious three year contract, which Rovers fans question marked from the start.
 

Alan was a hero in his first spell in the club notching up 120 appearances, which also earned him two call ups to the Republic of Ireland squad. Mahon starred in Tranmere’s run to the Worthington Cup final in 2000, scoring a penalty in the 4-0 aggregate win over Bolton in the Semi finals.

Back in more current times though and Rovers had finished seventh in the previous campaign and under Barnes, hopes were high of going one step better, with Mahon returning to the left wing of Prenton Park which he had occupied 10 years previously.

The former Blackburn man played every game under the management pairing of Barnes and McAteer but the two were inevitably sacked after a shocking start of just two wins from 11 games.

The passing game simply doesn’t work at this level unless you have above average resources at your disposal, something Rovers definitely didn’t have with their widely known shoestring budget.  The beautiful game they planned brought a number of shocking defeats including a 4-0 defeat to Charlton and a 5-0 loss at Millwall which was effectively the final straw for the pair.

Following their dismissal. in steps physio Les Parry, who had a strong relationship with the midfielder, "I picked Alan up from the airport when he first came over from Ireland as a fresh faced 15 year old and we have developed a great friendship.” Parry told the Tranmere Rovers Website this afternoon.

Parry instantly scrapped wingers, in a 4-3-3 formation and attempted to employ Mahon in the central three, it was clear he couldn’t adapt his style to that of a young side or maybe he just didn’t have the legs.

At this point the midfield needed battlers, with the side scrapping for points at the bottom, and Alan’s flare and skill was discarded, he was soon preferred to the likes of John Welsh, Ash Taylor and Gareth Edds.

The Irishman has played with quality players in the past, in his prime he was playing in the Wigan side that stormed the Premier League in 2006, reaching the Carling Cup final. That season Mahon scored a stunning goal at Villa Park, in Wigan’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

However by now the 33-year old was picking up injuries regularly, and his latest one saw him out until March, in which time Rovers had semi-recovered their season, and gave themselves a chance of survival under Parry.

Mahon made the odd substitute appearance, but the loaning of exciting youngster Joss Labadie from West Brom further decreased his chances. Rovers survived on the final day with a dramatic 3-0 win at Stockport, but Mahon had no influence on the game, not even making the bench. 

A pre-season injury meant his next campaign was doomed from the start, and by the time he became fit in the spring Rovers were once again battling for survival and couldn’t afford risking an unfit Mahon, in their precarious position.

Today, Tranmere Rovers and Alan Mahon announced they were parting company by mutual consent - an inevitable outcome with Rovers looking to free up their budget wherever they can. 

The rumours were that Alan took a pay cut whilst in the treatment room last season, showing his love for the club, a factor highlighted when he spoke to the Rovers website. "Tranmere will always have a special place in my heart as it's the club I began my career at and where I made so many friends.”

Whether Alan decides to stay in the game, go into coaching or take a break, I’m sure he will have the best wishes from everyone at Tranmere, and hope he stays in touch.

Follow Mark Ridgway on twitter @marktrfc