Oldham Athletic 1, Tranmere Rovers 0, League One, 25th January 2012

At the last Tranmere home game we went to (I think it was the Huddersfield one), a few of the young kids sitting at the back of the stand unveiled a 'Parry Out' banner. They were booed by a good number of people around me and, probably unaware of  human rights laws in this country, some of the Tranmere stewards waded in and made them put it away.

On Saturday, the banner appeared again, but this time there weren't so many boos and there was certainly no response from stewards. In fact, the photographers wearing OAFC jackets were goading 40-50 kids to hold the banner up and look menacing while they took a few shots of them. I would say nearly half of the 600 Rovers fans who turned up joined in with the 'Parry Out' chants.

With the notable exception of a brief purple patch at the start of the season, I've never believed we would get anywhere with Les in charge - and I've said so lots of times.

It sounds snobby, but he's always been a comical figure: welder turned physio, physio turned manager, famous for writing funny programme notes and for showing off his little white legs in a shorts and t-shirt combo even in the middle of winter. For years, he traded off being the court jester of the dugout, so how on earth was anyone, right through from the players to the supporters, supposed to take him seriously?

And PR-wise he's lost the plot completely. After this latest abject performance, particularly up front and in midfield, he turned on the fans. That's not the way to get them on your side Les.

It's difficult though. He's clearly not the brightest biscuit in the barrel. I'm sure he supports the club and I'm sure he doesn't get paid much. I can't imagine what he will do when he eventually gets the sack, for he certainly will at some point.

All of which makes it seem a bit mean when people appear to want to physically rip him apart by the end of every game. I guess the way he seems to be trying to pass himself off as a Mr Tough Guy doesn't help. Stoic, apparently unaffected by any criticism, even though many of the accusations that are levelled at him are bang on, he just appears a ridiculous figure, standing by helplessly while we win one game in four months.

There are some similarities to Steve Kean, the Blackburn boss. He too appeared over promoted and he too appeared to believe he was a 'real manager', even when the fans' rage and embarrassment at who their manager was made it clear they wanted someone at the helm who might actually know what to do at that level.

But the biggest similarity between the two Rovers is that, in both cases, the supporters' wrath is directed at the wrong man. Kean is just a stooge. People don't care too much about him but he is a focal point for anti-Venkys protests and the same applies with Les. Yes, of course he's out of his depth. Yes, of course he doesn't know what he's doing. Yes, of course we have no hope of achieving anything with him in charge, but who appointed him?

It's not Parry's fault, but he is a symbol of everything that has gone wrong with the club. With Les in charge, we look like complete amateurs and that doesn't appear to bother Peter Johnson one bit. In just under three years, PJ has undone all the goodwill he had deservedly earned in the previous twenty. Things have got to change - and not just on the manager's bench.

All wasn't lost on Saturday though. Sam thinks Oldham make good pies and that's seven down on his 92 Club Tour. Just another 85 to go.