Ronnie Moore: Hartlepool boss expects warm Tranmere return
Last updated on .From the section Football
Hartlepool manager Ronnie Moore expects a warm reception on his first return to Tranmere since his sacking in April.
The 61-year-old, who also played 324 league games in two spells at Rovers, was deemed "in breach of contract" when found guilty of breaking Football Association betting regulations.
"One or two might take the mickey out of me over the way things ended," Moore told BBC Tees.
"But I'm looking forward to it, because the spectators there were great to me."
The Liverpool-born striker, who also played in defence for the club, secured Rovers a play-off place in 2008-09's League One campaign and in his second stint kept the club in the third tier during the 2011-12 season.
Regardless of the circumstances of his departure last April, Moore's feeling for Rovers has been unaffected.
"I gave a lot of my time as a player and a manager and coach and had some really good years there," said Moore, who was appointed as Pools boss in December.
"They [the fans] know how it ended and I've had some really nice letters and emails from people.
"I'm looking forward to going back to see people I knew in the backroom staff and around the club but it's not about me."
Hartlepool travel to Prenton Park with both clubs moored at the bottom end of the bottom tier, and desperate for points in the battle to avoid relegation.
"The lads know how important this game is - not just for me but the football club," added Moore.
"I've asked the XI who go out to give everything for the club and for me and it's such a massive game.
"They're all must-win games, we're still playing catch-up, and we'll be running out of games soon enough."
