Tranmere Rovers yesterday moved to head off potential bidders by persuading John Aldridge to sign a new managerial contract which will keep him in charge at Prenton Park until June 2000. Club officials acknowledge that with a gap of 20 points separating Tranmere from the First Division championship leaders, Nottingham Forest, they'll do well to get back into the race for promotion.

Yet, the external pressures created by Aldridge's achievements in his first managerial post were such, that they saw fit to expedite an agreement which was not due for renewal until the end of the season.

"It is recognition by the club of the great job which John is doing for us and we're delighted he is going to be here for another two years," said a spokesman.

The other good news for Tranmere is that Aldridge who took down his boots at the age of 39 last month, to solve a potentially serious problem in his team's attack, intends to go on playing until the end of the season.

"The only reason I got involved again was that we were having a bad time with injuries and David Kelly was away with Ireland in Brussels," he said. "The physical bit doesn't get any easier but I've always prided myself on the fact that anywhere I've ever been, I've delivered goals."

Aldridge who retired from international football in high dudgeon after Mick McCarthy opted to send on Alan Moore ahead of him when making a late substitution in the scoreless draw with Iceland in November last year, has no plans to get involved again with the national team. But he admits that he misses the sense of occasion, greatly.

"Going to Dublin for games was always a big occasion and that is something I miss," he said. "I hope to go back with Tranmere for a mid-season break next month but that's not quite the same thing.

"The Ireland years were the highlight of my career and I've felt a huge void since calling it a day," he said. "It's a shame that Ireland will not be involved in the World Cup finals in France and I'm not just talking about the players.

"The presence of our supporters was, in a very real way, an essential part of the last two World Cup finals and I feel genuinely, that their absence will take something away from the colour and excitement in France next summer."