HOWEVER Tranmere's board of directors resolve their search for a new manager, they already have good cause to be thankful for the healing hands of the man they put in caretaker charge of team affairs. Physiotherapist Les Parry is administering the equivalent of a soothing massage to a patient that had become tense with the strain of frequent failure on the field, and disharmony off it. Parry delivered on two important fronts in his first full week in temporary control of the dressing room. The value of a narrow, nervy success over Brighton cannot be underestimated when you consider it was Rovers' third win in 13 League One games. Yet perhaps more significant is the transformation in the mood at Prenton Park both on and off the field. The players have responded to the leadership of the longest-serving member of the first-team backroom staff with a couple of fired-up performances. The luck that deserted them in a 1-0 defeat to Stockport last Monday ran their way as they edged out the Seagulls. Meanwhile the rift between the club's hierarchy and the supporters, that opened like a wound through the early months of the season, has been closed and stitched. Peter Johnson may have taken some criticism from the paying customers for the decision to replace Ronnie Moore with the former Liverpool pairing of John Barnes and Jason McAteer. But give the chairman credit for identifying the man every element of the club could rally behind. Tranmere were a family again last week with the management, staff, players and supporters all pulling for each other. It's the recipe that's always worked best at Prenton Park. The crowd on the Kop, who kept up their singing and chanting throughout the afternoon, delivered one last chorus of "Who needs Mourinhio, we've got our physio!" before leaving the ground. The victory should take some of the urgency out of Tranmere search for a third manager since they narrowly missed out on the play-offs at the end of last season. It may also give Parry a little more time to build a case for the temporary assignment becoming a permanent one - if indeed he wants it. The job is going to require more than restoring harmony to the club however. Only consistent results can lift Tranmere out of the bottom four and away from the threat of relegation. Rovers were grateful for the assistance of opponents who trod on their own toes a few times during the afternoon. Poor finishing and the irresponsibility that led to striker Glenn Murray being sent off for a pair of handling offences, undermined the Seagulls' performance and left manager Russell Slade less than happy with their efforts. | 
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