Pete Wild has criticised Tranmere Rovers supporters for their reaction following the full-time whistle in their home loss to Colchester United.
The Essex side looked assured in their performance at Prenton Park and sealed all three points through a 75th-minute Jack Payne strike, handing them their first win since beating Newport County at the start of last month.
It has been a horrid start to his tenure on the Wirral for the former Fleetwood Town head, having picked up just one point, against the Cod Army, and have yet score their first goal under his watch.
Wild Lambasts Full-Time Reception
The Super White Army did not hold back in venting their frustration after the final whistle, with many of them booing and jeering the players and owner Mark Palios, who has come under increasing pressure as the threat of relegation into the National League beckons.
Speaking about the fans’ reaction to yet another loss to club media, Pete Wild said:
“I want to start with people’s frustrations at the end and having a pop. I’m going to have a pop back because I’m here to get a reaction out of the players. The effort and desire we’re getting out of the players is tenfold better than it was three weeks ago.
“There’s no magic wand to wave something and make everything better. The team lost 11 out of 12 before we walked the door. We are here to try and make sure we make them better and make them work harder as a team, which they are doing.
“So if I’m having a pop back at people, [it’s] because I’m frustrated that they’re not giving the players the credit they deserve for the effort they are putting in.
“I know why we play players, I know why we’re doing what we’re doing. Because it makes sense what we’re doing. We’ve had 13 shots at goal today, five on target. It is not a tactical thing, it is about both boxes. We will only get out of this by being better in both boxes.
“I appreciate people are frustrated. I am as wound up and frustrated as everyone else. I am not going to sit there and let people shout at me if I think there’s something wrong and that’s why you get the reaction you get today.”
Disconnect Deepens At Rovers
Pete Wild’s press conference following a tough, narrow loss to Colchester United will do little to allay the fears of Tranmere Rovers fans as the threat of relegation beckons.
The fans at Prenton Park are within reason to vent their anger at what they are seeing on the field. It has stemmed long before Wild’s arrival last month. Since New Year’s Day, Rovers have won once. They entered 2026 with 32 points. Today, they sit on 36 points.
Wild’s criticism of that reception speaks to a greater disconnect between him, the owners, and the fans at the club. They do not want better effort or credit. They need points. They need goals. They want their club to stay in the English Football League.
Harrogate Town and Newport County play each other this weekend, and a win for either would draw them level with Tranmere, and with both having won in recent weeks, it would be fair to tip them both to pick up further points in addition to that game.
Barrow have done the same and claimed three points in recent weeks, having taken out leaders Bromley two weeks ago. Unless they can find any form of result between now and the end of the season to counteract the three sides below them, it is hard to see past Tranmere going back down to non-league.
Rovers head to Chesterfield on Saturday, with Paul Cook’s side grinding out 1-0 wins in each of their last three matches as they hold onto their own destiny in the playoff race. While that narrow margin in each of those games might instil confidence in getting a positive result on the day, it is up to Wild to put his side in the position to capitalise on that.
