John King is heavily regarded as the most successful manager ever to manage Rovers Rovers. He was appointed gaffer of the club for a second time (having previously been in charge in the 70's) towards the end of the 1986-1987 season, with the club battling not to finish bottom of the fourth division and be relegated from the football league. Security was only guaranteed in the last game of the season with a 1-0 home victory over Exeter City, Rovers's vital winner being scored by midfielder Gary Williams. Thereafter, King began to show the talents which made him a superstar on the Wirral and established his reputation as one of the finest managerial geniuses ever to grace England's lower leagues, as well as one of the most eccentric. Carefully outstanding homegrown talent from the club's youth programme with great bargain signings from league and non-league clubs, he formed a team which took Rovers up the football league standings and gained a fearsome reputation in domestic competitions.

King's first full season of his second managerial spell in charge saw Rovers make their first appearance at Wembley stadium when a good mid-season run of form saw them qualify as one of the fourth division's two representatives, along with eventual champions Wolves, in the football league's centenary tournament. Rovers were the surprise stars of an otherwise derided tournament, beating first division Wimbledon and Newcastle before losing on penalties to eventual winners Nottingham Forest.

King's second season in this spell (1988-89) saw him guide Rovers to promotion as Fourth Division runners-up. It also marked the first of a string of cup successes against sides from the first division, Middlesborough going down 1-0 on aggregate in the second round of the League Cup. Fellow top flight sides Millwall, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Coventry were among the other giants slain at Prenton Park by King's Rovers.

A successful return to division three saw Rovers finish fourth in the table, only to lose to Notts County in the 1990 third division playoff final. They were granted a place in the Second Division after Swindon Town (Second Division playoff winners) were demoted to the Third Tier of English football for financial irregularities.