Speaking to the club official site, Moore said "The squad of players we've got here, when everybody is fit is as good as anybodies...
..."We've got nine players ouf of contract in the summer, five of them senior players. We've spoken to the agents and we are still talking to them. We're also looking at players for next year in case players we've offered contracts don't take them. We've sat down and had a look at the players who are available and we're making phone calls."
Senior Players Out of Contract:
Boss Ronnie Moore has stated that there are five senior players out of contract this summer, but Tranmere Rovers Mad is sure that there is one more, unless one player has already signed new deals.
Shane Sherriff, defender
A versatile player, Australian Shane Sherriff joined Tranmere in 2006 on a two-year deal, meaning his contract is up this summer. Due to his versatility, with the ability to play at left-back, centre-back and left-midfield, it is expected that Sherriff will be kept on this summer, even if it is just as back up to Andy Taylor and Steve Davies.
Robbie Stockdale, defender
Like Sherriff, right-back Robbie Stockdale joined Tranmere on a two-year contract in summer 2006. Having rarely missed a game since joining the club, supporters carry a variation of opinions on the Scottish international, with some seeing him as a solid, useful and consistent player, whilst others see him as a defender who is regularly exploited due to his lack of pace. With youngster Danny Holmes now banging on the door to get into the first team and take Stockdale's place, it really is unknown whether the right-back will sign a new contract, although rumour has it he is set to leave the club in the summer.
Paul McLaren, midfielder
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Another love him or loath him player, Stockdale was one of Ronnie Moore's first signings for Tranmere as he joined on a two-year contract in 2006. After a fairly weak start to his career in a white shirt, McLaren has become an integral part of the Rovers midfield and is the leading assist man in League One this season. A deadball specialist, McLaren also has a magnificent passing range and ability, although many believe he doesn't weigh in with his fair share of goals. It is expected that 31-year old will sign a new deal in the summer, although this could be for either one or two years.
Steven Jennings, midfielder
This season, central-midfielder Steven Jennings has been a revelation in the Tranmere side. Making his debut in the 2003/04 season, Jennings was not a regular in the team last season and as a result was shipped out on loan to League Two side Hereford United. Since his return, "Jenno" has been a completely different player.
Often drawing the plaudits due to his increadible work-rate, the Tranmere number twelve gets from box to box with great pace and passion, whilst he is often the first line of defence as he breaks up opposition attacks. A rumour circulating the message boards recently stated that Jennings, who signed a two-year deal along with Carl Tremarco in 2006, just before Brian Little left the club, is set to join Championship side Ipswich Town in the summer on a free-transfer, although this rumour soon died down. It is expected that Ronnie Moore will do his upmost to try and retain the player.
John Mullin, midfielder
One player who it is generally accepted will be leaving Prenton Park this summer is ageing midfielder John Mullin.
Signed in the summer of 2006, also on a two year, John Mullin started his Tranmere in career in great form, netting important goals against the likes of Bristol City (1-0) and Northampton Town (3-1), making him a much liked player on the Wirral. However, the attacking-midfielders form dipped towards the second half of the 06/07 season and following a troublesome injury at the start of the 07/08 season, coupled with the magnificent form of Jennings and McLaren, Mullin has struggled to get a game this season.
With age and form a problem then, it is expected Mullin will leave the club in the summer, with talk of retirement even surrounding the player.
Steven Davies, winger/attacker
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Striker-come-winger Steven Davies started the 2007/08 season in quite spectacular form, this following on from a brilliant pre-season, where he managed to make the left-wing position his own, until a cruciate knee-ligament injury at the back end of September resulted in a six-month absense from which he has only just returned.
Davies' future is however very much in the balance. With an undoubted bright future ahead him, Davies, it is believed, has stalled on signing a contract offered to him in November, and Tranmere have already rejected offers for the player from clubs such as Leeds United who came sniffing around in August.
With such a terrible injury happening to a player who is still relitively unproven, it really is unknown where Davies will end up next season. However, one thing is for sure, every Tranmere player will be hoping he is still at Prenton Park.
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As Ronnie Moore is suggesting that only five of the nine players out of contract are "senior" players, is it possible that one of the six players listed above has already signed a new contract with the club? Indeed, it could also be possible that Moore doesn't consider a player like Davies as a senior player.
The Tranmere boss also states that of the nine players out of contract, four are youngsters. These four players are right-winger Michael Jones, right-back Danny Holmes, central-midfielder Paul Henry (currently on-loan at T.N.S.) and centre-back Michael Johnston (centre-back).
Winger Michael Jones, despite never getting a proper chance in the first team, is expected to be released, which is unfair, some will agree, on a player who definately has talent and potential as well as being, without doubt, one of the start performers for the reserves this season.
However, after successful loan spells this season (Danny Holmes spent two months at Southport at the start of 2008 and was greatly praised by Southport manager Peter Davenport), Holmes, Johnston and Paul Henry, who made the break into the first team as he played away at Doncaster and Luton at the back end of 2007, are all expected to be offered new contracts.