I’m tracksuited and booted for Rovers’ big day
MICKY MELLON has revealed he will be supporting Tranmere Rovers in the Football League Trophy Final – while wearing his Dundee United tracksuit.
The Tannadice gaffer will be cheering on his old side when they face Sunderland at Wembley in tomorrow’s final.
Mellon quit Tranmere after four years in the summer to move to Tayside for his first crack at Scottish football.
And his old side take centre stage tomorrow on a weekend when two EFL Trophy Finals will be played in two days, with last term’s delayed clash between Portsmouth and Salford taking place today.
Mellon said: “I’ll be watching. You talk about giants, there is a club in the shadows of Liverpool and Everton in terms of size but you should count the number of Wembley appearances Tranmere have had compared to the big two, it is incredible.
“They seem to get there an awful lot and to get there again is brilliant.
“I’m pleased for the fans, the owners and everybody connected to the club.
“I will be supporting them with my United tracksuit on.”
Mellon will be hoping that Tranmere can lift the trophy for the first time in over 30 years, with the majority of his old staff still at Prenton Park.
The United boss said: “There are still a lot of my players there and I know Keith Hill the manager and all the staff he has.
“They were all my staff. I know everybody from the chef to the groundsman. Most of them were there when I was a player and some I played with.
“They are a unique club and people just seem to work for them and show great loyalty to the club.”
Sunderland are a sleeping giant in League One but seem to have gotten their house in order and are pushing for promotion again.
The Black Cats have far bigger resources but Mellon knows from past experience that the underdog can always bite.
He said: “When you see the Stadium of Light and their fan base then Sunderland are massive.
“I would say though when I was at Tranmere we didn’t half have our days in the sunshine against Sunderland.
“We always gave them tough games but they are a massive club with a great tradition. They are right up there with the biggest clubs, in terms of fan base and grounds, etc.
“I don’t think there will be much between them.”