Barnes and McAteer top Rovers' list.

Byline: NICK HILTON

BOOKMAKERS have made John Barnes and Jason McAteer short odds favourites to succeed Ronnie Moore as manager of Tranmere Rovers.

The names being linked to the post the popular Moore held for the last three seasons include former Liverpool team-mates Barnes and McAteer as well as the management partnership of Paul Ince and Ray Mathias. All four men are Wir ral-based.

Barnes, currently coach of the Jamaica international side, is understood to be keen on another try at club management after a disappointing experience at Celtic in 1999. McAteer spent three years as a player and coach at Prenton Park between 2004 and 2007.

Ince, the for mer Manchester United, Liverpool and England midfielder teamed up with Mathias at the start of his managerial career. The pair enjoyed success in the lower divisions at

Macclesfield and MK Dons before a brief but ill-fated venture into the Premier League with Blackburn, which ended last December.

Mathias boasts more than 40 years experience in the professional game, much of it gained with Tranmere as a long serving player, coach and finally manager at Prenton Park from 2002 to 2003..

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John Barnes