REPUBLIC of Ireland striker John Aldridge is ready to pledge himself to English club Tranmere Rovers for the rest of his playing career.

Aldridge, 34, has agreed to a one-year extension of his current contract which still has 18 months to run. He joined Tranmere in the summer of 1991.

The Irishman, who found fame with Liverpool and Spanish club Real Sociedad, admitted he originally wanted to leave football after playing in the 1994 World Cup but he revealed: ''I've changed my mind. This season we have seen so many players like Trevor Francis, Ray Wilkins, Kevin Moran, Gordon Strachan, Glenn Hoddle and John Wark prove that you can go on playing at the top level.