Former Port Vale manager Andy Crosby has been appointed Tranmere Rovers manager after a successful interim spell.
The 52-year-old guided Tranmere to six wins and five draws from his 13 games in temporary charge following the departure of Nigel Adkins, guiding them to League Two safety.
Crosby told the Tranmere website: “To represent this football club – and everything it stands for, including hard work, commitment, and unity – is something I’m extremely proud of.
“I’d like to personally thank all the players and staff, both at The Campus and at Prenton Park, for their support during my interim spell. Their dedication and professionalism have played a huge part in getting me to this point.
“I’d also like to thank the supporters. Their backing over the past few months has been outstanding, and I’m looking forward to continuing to strengthen that positive relationship.”
Crosby, who had had two previous interim spells as Port Vale manager, was appointed on a permanent basis in the summer of 2023 but was sacked in January 2024 after a poor run of form.
His record as permanent Port Vale manager was fourteen wins in 44 games, a win ratio of 31%. After leaving, Crosby said he wanted to thank the owners, staff, players and fans for their “amazing support, hard work and enthusiasm during my time at the football club and wish the club all the best.”
Pleased for Andy Crosby who I’ve great respect for. A fully deserved and excellent opportunity for him at a club with a good stadium and crowd potential. He knows Leagues 1 and 2 so well. His overall Vale record must also include that spell of 9 wins and 4 draws in 17 games as Acting Manager in Darrell Clarke’s unfortunate absence. This gave him a total of 23 wins in 61 games, and a decent 38% win percentage in the Vale hot seat acting & permanent. I wish him well.
Absolutely brilliant, I’ve nothing but the upmost respect for the chap. He was treated disgracefully at the Vale. A lot of people dismiss Andy Crosby as a good coach but not management materially. After Clarke had taken over at the Vale I think he had only take 1point out of his first 6 or 7 games and we were head only one way, out of the league. And it wasn’t until Crosby came to the club that things turned around. As for the promotion season, I think Vale were around 7th when Clarke needed time off after the sad loss of his daughter, and for me it was Crosby who got us over the line and inevitably promotion, as Clarke himself highlighted by letting Crosby lead the team out at Wembley. The season Clarke, left again it fell upon Crosby to get us over the line and this time keep us up. The season Crosby was dismissed, from the offset he was given no chance at all of staying up with the squad Flitcroft had put together, he didn’t have a fit forward on the books yet still managed to get us off to a good start, and reached the quarter final of the league cup. After his dismissal Darren Moore arrived with a coach load of assistants and I believe picked up fewer points than him over a similar period of time. It was grossly unfair, Crosby was sacked for doing a better job than Moore who gets a 5year contract and a shed full of money. Tranmere will be a good bet for promotion next season!
Well done, Andy, richly deserved.
Good luck for next season.