# 2023–24 Tranmere Rovers F.C. season

The 2023–24 season is the 140th season in the history of Tranmere Rovers and their fourth consecutive season in League Two. The club are participating in League Two, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the 2023–24 EFL Trophy.

## Current squad

    As of 28 March 2024
| No. | Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth (Age) | Previous club | Date signed | Fee | Contract end |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Luke McGee | GK | Edgware | (1995-09-02) 2 September 1995 (age 29) | Forest Green Rovers | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 13 | Joe Murphy | GK | Dublin | (1981-08-21) 21 August 1981 (age 43) | Shrewsbury Town | 22 August 2020 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 29 | Conor Robson | GK | Liverpool | (2003-09-21) 21 September 2003 (age 21) | Cammell Laird | 25 September 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 3 | Jake Leake | LB | Kingston upon Hull | (2003-02-20) 20 February 2003 (age 22) | Hull City | 18 July 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 5 | Tom Davies | CB | Warrington | (1992-04-18) 18 April 1992 (age 32) | Bristol Rovers | 1 July 2021 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 6 | Jordan Turnbull | CB | Trowbridge | (1994-10-30) 30 October 1994 (age 30) | Salford City | 26 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 21 | Josef Yarney | CB | Liverpool | (1997-10-08) 8 October 1997 (age 27) | Oldham Athletic | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 24 | Dan Pike | RB | | (2002-01-09) 9 January 2002 (age 23) | Blackburn Rovers | 28 August 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 26 | James Norris | LB | Liverpool | (2003-04-04) 4 April 2003 (age 21) | Liverpool | 1 September 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 27 | Connor Wood | LB | Harlow | (1996-07-17) 17 July 1996 (age 28) | Leyton Orient | 8 September 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 30 | Jean Belehouan | CB | | (2000-09-01) 1 September 2000 (age 24) | Sheffield United | 25 September 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 31 | Joe Starbuck | RB | Essex | (2002-08-03) 3 August 2002 (age 22) | Sheffield United | 25 September 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 2 | Lee O'Connor | DM | Waterford | (2000-07-28) 28 July 2000 (age 24) | Celtic | 25 January 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 4 | Brad Walker | DM | Billingham | (1996-04-25) 25 April 1996 (age 28) | Port Vale | 12 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 7 | Kieron Morris | RM | Hereford | (1994-06-03) 3 June 1994 (age 30) | Walsall | 1 July 2019 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 8 | Regan Hendry | CM | Edinburgh | (1998-01-21) 21 January 1998 (age 27) | Forest Green Rovers | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 11 | Josh Hawkes | LM | Stockton-on-Tees | (1999-01-28) 28 January 1999 (age 26) | Sunderland | 25 January 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 16 | Chris Merrie | CM | Liverpool | (1998-11-02) 2 November 1998 (age 26) | Wigan Athletic | 1 July 2021 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 22 | Paul Lewis | CM | Liverpool | (1994-12-17) 17 December 1994 (age 30) | Northampton Town | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 23 | Reece McAlear | CM | Glasgow | (2002-02-12) 12 February 2002 (age 23) | Norwich City | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| — | Ousmane Kane | DM | Guédiawaye | (2001-07-23) 23 July 2001 (age 23) | AS Douanes | 6 February 2024 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 9 | Luke Norris | CF | Stevenage | (1993-06-03) 3 June 1993 (age 31) | Stevenage | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 12 | Charlie Jolley | CF | Liverpool | (2001-01-13) 13 January 2001 (age 24) | Wigan Athletic | 25 January 2021 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 14 | Kristian Dennis | CF | Manchester | (1990-03-12) 12 March 1990 (age 34) | Carlisle United | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 18 | Connor Jennings | CF | Manchester | (1991-10-29) 29 October 1991 (age 33) | Hartlepool United | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 19 | Harvey Saunders | CF | Wolverhampton | (1997-07-20) 20 July 1997 (age 27) | Bristol Rovers | 27 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 20 | Samuel Taylor | CF | | (2003-12-23) 23 December 2003 (age 21) | Academy | 10 January 2022 | Trainee | 30 June 2026 |
| 25 | Rob Apter | RW | Liverpool | (2003-01-16) 16 January 2003 (age 22) | Blackpool | 12 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| Out on Loan ||||||||||
| 15 | Ben Hockenhull | CB | Crewe | (2001-09-03) 3 September 2001 (age 23) | Brentford | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 17 | Rhys Hughes | CM | Wrexham | (2001-09-21) 21 September 2001 (age 23) | Everton | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 28 | Mikey Davies | LB | Birkenhead | (2004-09-23) 23 September 2004 (age 20) | Academy | 29 August 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred from | Fee |
| 1 July 2023 | CF | Kristian Dennis | Carlisle United | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | CM | Regan Hendry | Forest Green Rovers | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | CF | Connor Jennings | Hartlepool United | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | GK | Luke McGee | Forest Green Rovers | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | CF | Luke Norris | Stevenage | Free Transfer |
| 21 July 2023 | CB | Josef Yarney | Oldham Athletic | Free Transfer |
| 28 August 2023 | RB | Dan Pike | Blackburn Rovers | Free Transfer |
| 8 September 2023 | LB | Connor Wood | Free agent | — |
| 25 September 2023 | CB | Jean Belehouan | Free agent | — |
| 25 September 2023 | GK | Conor Robson | Cammell Laird | Free Transfer |
| 25 September 2023 | RB | Joe Starbuck | Free agent | — |
| 6 February 2024 | DM | Ousmane Kane | AS Douanes | Free Transfer |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred to | Fee |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Jake Burton | Chester | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | RB | Josh Dacres-Cogley | Bolton Wanderers | Free Transfer |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Max Fisher | Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | Mateusz Hewelt | Radcliffe | Free Transfer |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Florent Hoti | FC Halifax Town | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Kyle Jameson | Newport County | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | AM | Arthur Lomax | Bootle | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Joel Mumbongo | Hamilton Academical | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Jon Nolan | Macclesfield | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | AM | Ryan Stratulis | Connah's Quay Nomads | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | RW | Jack Williams | Free agent | Released |
| 18 July 2023 | LB | Ethan Bristow | Minnesota United | Undisclosed |
| 1 September 2023 | CF | Kane Hemmings | Stevenage | Mutual Consent |

### Loaned in

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned from | Until |
| 18 July 2023 | LB | Jake Leake | Hull City | End of Season |
| 1 September 2023 | LB | James Norris | Liverpool | End of Season |
| 1 September 2023 | RW | Rob Apter | Blackpool | 1 January 2024 |
| 12 January 2024 | RW | Rob Apter | Blackpool | End of Season |

### Loaned out

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned to | Until |
| 1 August 2023 | CB | Luis Lacey | Flint Town United | |
| 19 August 2023 | CB | Ben Hockenhull | Chorley | 16 September 2023 |
| 3 November 2023 | CB | Ben Hockenhull | Spennymoor Town | 2 December 2023 |
| 17 November 2023 | CM | Rhys Hughes | Curzon Ashton | End of Season |
| 8 December 2023 | LB | Mikey Davies | FC United of Manchester | 6 January 2024 |
| 26 January 2024 | RB | Luis Lacey | Flint Town United | End of Season |
| 9 February 2024 | CB | Ben Hockenhull | Southport | 9 March 2024 |
| 8 March 2024 | LB | Mikey Davies | Clitheroe | 6 April 2024 |
* ↑ On 18 December, Hughes' loan at Curzon was extended by a further month.
* ↑ On 23 January, Hughes' loan at Curzon was extended again, until the end of season.

## Pre-season and friendlies

On 8 June Tranmere Rovers announced their pre-season schedule, with friendlies against Vauxhall Motors, Southport, Fleetwood Town, Rochdale and Everton XI. A sixth pre-season fixture was later added, against Wigan Athletic.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

## Competitions
### Overall record

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| League Two | 5 August | | Matchday 1 | | 39 | 15 | 5 | 19 | 58 | 54 | +4 | 038.46 |
| FA Cup | 4 November | 4 November | First round | First round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 000.00 |
| EFL Cup | 8 August | 29 August | First round | Second round | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 000.00 |
| EFL Trophy | 5 September | 14 November | Group stage | group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 000.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 45 | 15 | 6 | 24 | 63 | 65 | −2 | 033.33 |
Last updated: 16 March 2024 Source: Soccerway

### League Two
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 13 | Harrogate Town | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 60 | 69 | −9 | 63 |
| 14 | Notts County | 46 | 18 | 7 | 21 | 89 | 86 | +3 | 61 |
| 15 | Morecambe | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 67 | 81 | −14 | 58 |
| 16 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 17 | 6 | 23 | 67 | 70 | −3 | 57 |
| 17 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 63 | 71 | −8 | 57 |
| 18 | Newport County | 46 | 16 | 7 | 23 | 62 | 76 | −14 | 55 |
| 19 | Swindon Town | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 77 | 83 | −6 | 54 |
* ↑ On 11 April 2024, Morecambe were deducted three points for failing to pay players and staff on time following previous EFL rules breaches in the 2023–24 season.'"`UNIQ--ref-0000009F-QINU`"'

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 20 April 2024. Source: Soccerway

#### Matches

On 22 June, the EFL League Two fixtures were released.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### FA Cup

Rovers were drawn away to Stevenage in the first round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Cup

Tranmere were drawn away to Barnsley in the first round and at home to Leicester City in the second round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Trophy

In the group stage, Tranmere Rovers were drawn into Northern Group D with Wigan Athletic, Fleetwood Town and Leicester City Under-21s.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L1 | Wigan Athletic | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 7 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L1 | Fleetwood Town | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 7 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | ACA | Leicester City U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 3 | |
| 4 | L2 | Tranmere Rovers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 1 | |
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures