Grew and Horsfield to revitalise Port Vale after Jim Gannon departure

As a strong gusty wind flew over Vale Park, Jim Gannon’s reign as Port Vale manager was blown away, writes Mike Carter.

A 2-1 defeat at home to Oxford followed by a 3-0 away loss to Accrington has put his job in jeopardy and also put Vale’s promotion hopes on the brink of disaster.

Vale had led League Two for half of the current 2010/11 season until boss Micky Adams sought his ‘dream’ job at Sheffield United in December. This still left them on the brink of automatic promotion when the former Stockport boss Gannon was appointed in January.

But after recording just four wins from 15 games the board decided to bring an end to his reign.

“It’s a tough job as a football manager and I am only trying to do my best for the club and the fans,” said Gannon, after the defeat to Oxford.

With the season coming to an end, the Valiant’s are in need of someone to spur them on again and get them back to winning ways.

Step up Mark Grew and Geoff Horsfield.

The pair have now been in temporary charge of the side for two weeks and although they haven’t found a win yet, they also haven’t lost either. A 1-1 draw against Hereford followed up with a 0-0 draw against Bury leaves Vale ninth in the table, two points of the play-offs.

Although these results leave Vale outside the top seven, there has been significant progress in the teams performances since Gannon’s departure. Midfielder Anthony Griffith acknowledged that the team are making progress and described Grew and Horsfield as ‘doing the right stuff’.

But with only eight games to go, the question on the lips of many Vale fans will be have Grew and Horsfield got the managerial experience to lead the side to
promotion? Well Grew has been at Port Vale since 1994 taking up various roles such as youth coach and assistant manager, so you can’t knock his knowledge and passion. This is his third time as caretaker manager in twelve years meaning he will also have the respect of players and fans.

Horsfield joined Vale in 2009 as player-assistant manager and only twelve months later he was installed as the full time assistant manager. A major talking point in his time at the club was his bust-up with ex-manager Gannon when both men left the team bus on the way to a match against Aldershot.
The two men certainly have played their part at the club and they will both have a vast knowledge of it but leading a team to promotion is a very different prospect. Again after the defeat to Oxford, Gannon explained that: “Promotion is one of the toughest things to achieve in football”. With that in mind and the managerial change coming so late in the season you must say Grew and Horsfield have it all to do but the partnership between the two could become the shining light in the Valiant’s season.

“It’s absolutely brilliant that Grewy and Geoff are in charge again”, said Vale’s current top scorer Marc Richards. Words like these suggest the players are fully behind the two men and they have a bond with them that they enjoy playing under. Morale is vital at a football club and some would say with good morale comes good performances.

This was there to see in the game against Bury at the weekend where Vale were unlucky not to earn all three points. After hitting the woodwork three times and creating countless opportunities they had to settle for the draw. The positive signs were there though and the change in managers looks as though it could spark a revival.

Their good work hasn’t gone unnoticed by the fans who have shown a lot more passion since the change. This prompted Grew to call them ‘the best supporters in League Two’. This relationship between fans, players and the managerial staff is looking positive, as these three components can be key to success.

If Grew and Horsefield keep working hard to please everyone involved with the club, then who knows, maybe they can guide Vale to promotion and become heroes. Grew has already stated that he believes automatic promotion is still a strong possibility and that they may not even need to go through the play offs which will delight the fans.

Vale face another two defining games next against Lincoln at Vale Park and top of the table Chesterfield. Two good results here would get the Vale fans excited again while the name Jim Gannon could be swiftly forgotten.

Micky Adams leaves Port Vale to join Sheffield United

 

Micky Adams has left Port Vale to take over as manager at Sheffield United.

The much-travelled ex-Fulham, Brighton and Leicester boss, 49, has agreed a two-and-a-half year deal to become Gary Speed’s successor at Bramall Lane.

United have agreed to compensate Vale, with Adams leaving the Potteries club in second place in League Two.

Micky Adams

Former Blades player Alan Cork will be Adams’ number two, while caretaker manager John Carver and assistant boss Sam Ellis have left the club.

Adams arrived at Vale Park in June 2009 and, within 18 months, has turned them into a promotion-chasing side.

Having come through the youth ranks at Bramall Lane before beginning his playing career with Gillingham, Adams has made no secret that he is a Blades fan.

He told the club website: “I’ve always supported the Blades and my favourite player growing up was Tony Currie. He was and still is my biggest idol.

“There is no doubt that my task is threefold. Firstly, to ensure that we avoid relegation and there is clearly enough time left in the season to do that.

“Secondly, to help us become a team that can challenge for promotion.

“Lastly, to develop a structure that will us build a reputation for home grown talent that fans can be proud of in their team.

“With the support of the board and the football staff, I intend to do everything I can to bring all that about.”

Former Sheffield United manager Dave Bassett, a close friend of Adams, told BBC Radio Stoke he would do a good job at his hometown club.

“Micky grew up watching them and there is always that dream of being their manager,” said Bassett.

“It will be a hard job, but Micky has got some good qualities.

“He’s worked as a coach, he’s managed at Fulham, Brighton, Brentford and we worked together at Nottingham Forest and Leicester.

“He has a good background and that’s important.”

Let North Staffs Football your thoughts about his departure – will this ruin Vale’s promotion chances?

New Years Day preview

North Staffs Football kicks off the New Year with a full fixture list.

Stoke City look to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Fulham with another match at the Britannia against Everton.

Britannia Stadium

Tony Pulis has called for Jermaine Pennant to keep focused after signing a two-and-a-half-year deal from Spanish side Real Zaragoza.

David Moyes’s side are the visitors and boast just two wins away from Goodison Park, but the Toffees could prove hard to break down, having drawn six on their travels.

In League Two, Port Vale will have to put aside worries over Micky Adams departure as they travel to Yorkshire side Rotherham.

Rotherham would leapfrog Vale with a win, as Adams’s men look to bounce back from a second successive defeat to Gillingham on Boxing Day.

Burton Albion welcome play-off contenders Shrewsbury Town to the Pirelli Stadium. The Brewers have slipped down to 14^th and are in need of a win to boost their own play-off chances.

The Shrews are poor travellers for their league position and have notched just three wins.

In the Blue Square North, Stafford Rangers face a tough test at AFC Telford as Tim Flowers searches for his first league win at the helm.

Rangers sit 20^th and are desperate for a win to lift themselves out of the relegation spots, but having netted only twice on their travels so far this campaign the odds are certainly stacked against them.

In the Evo Stik Division One South, Kidsgrove Athletic and Leek Town battle out a North Staffordshire derby at the Seddon Stadium.

Grove will be hoping to push home advantage as they look to challenge for a top two finish this season, whilst Leek’s prerogative is merely survival. The Blues haven’t kicked a ball in anger since November 23.

Elsewhere, Newcastle Town travel to Market Drayton Town.

NSF predictions

Stoke City 1 Everton 1

Burton Albion 1 Shrewsbury 2

Rotherham 2 Port Vale 2

AFC Telford 3 Stafford Rangers 0

Kidsgrove Athletic 2 Leek Town 1

Market Drayton 1 Newcastle Town 3

Let North Staffs Football know your score predictions!

Micky Adams poised for Port Vale exit

Port Vale manager Micky Adams has been offered the vacant manager’s job at Sheffield United.

The much-travelled ex-Fulham, Brighton and Leicester boss, 49, is the Blades’ choice as successor to Gary Speed.

BBC Radio Stoke understands that, once a compensation package is agreed with Vale, Sheffield-born Adams will depart for the club he followed as a boy.

Adams arrived at Vale Park in June 2009 and, within 18 months, has turned them into a promotion-chasing side.

Micky Adams

Having come through the youth ranks at Bramall Lane before beginning his playing career with Gillingham, Adams has made no secret that he is a Blades fan.

Former Sheffield United manager Dave Bassett, a close friend of Adams, told BBC Radio Stoke that he would do a good job at his home town club.

“Micky grew up watching them and there is always hat dream of being their anager,” said Bassett.

“It will be a hard job, but Micky has got some good qualities.

“He’s worked as a coached, he’s managed at Fulham, Brighton, Brentford and we worked together at Nottingham Forest and Leicester.

“He has a good background and that’s important.”

As things stand both Sheffield United and Port Vale have to agree compensation for Adams and, until that is finalised, Bassett says he will give 100% focus to Vale Park.

“He won’t down tools, he still has a job to do,” added Bassett. “He appreciates that Port Vale gave him an opportunity again and he will not disrespect them.”

More postponements in big freeze

Burton Albion and Stafford Rangers have been forced to postpone today’s Boxing Day fixtures due to frozen pitches.

In the Evo Stik First Division South all fixtures have been called off for Leek Town, Newcastle Town and Kidsgrove Athletic, scheduled to be played tomorrow (December 27).

Harrison Park Pic: Hampton Productions

Only Stoke City‘s trip to Ewood Park to take on Blackburn Rovers will go ahead.

Weather permitting, Vale travel to Gillingham and Burton take on Stevenage at the Pirelli on December 28, Stafford Rangers have a home tie against Worcester and Stoke entertain Fulham at the Britannia Stadium.

Leek, Newcastle and Kidsgrove will have to wait until New Years Day before they next attempt to play.

Leek and Kidsgrove clash at the Seddon Stadium whilst Newcastle make the short trip to Market Drayton Town.

North Staffs Football brings you the news about games that have been called off as soon as we get it. Let us know your score predictions.

Micky Adams in talks over Sheffield United job

Port Vale have given Sheffield United permission to talk to their boss Micky Adams over the managerial vacancy at Bramall Lane.

Vale chairman Bill Bratt said they have ‘reluctantly’ allowed Adams to speak to the Blades after an approach for the former Brighton boss.

Micky Adams

Doncaster boss Sean O’Driscoll played down suggestions on Thursday that he has accepted the Bramall Lane post.

The Blades said they would not appoint a successor to Gary Speed, who took up the Wales vacancy, until the new year.

First-team coach John Carver has been placed in caretaker charge of first-team affairs as Sheffield United look to find a full-time successor to Speed.

Bratt added: “Micky is a terrific manager who has been up front and honest with us throughout the process.

Bill Bratt

‘It’s testament to how well he’s done at Port Vale that we have now been approached.

“Micky was offered a new contract before this happened – and that is still on the table.

“We obviously want him to stay and we know everyone connected with the club feels the same.”

Let North Staffs Football know your thoughts: Will Micky Adams make the move back home to join Sheffield United?

Port Vale Match OFF

Port Vale’s Boxing Day clash with Lincoln City at Vale Park has been called off following further snow and freezing temperatures.

A date has yet to be re-arranged.

Keep checking North Staffs Football for updates on the rest of the region’s games.

Festive period kicks off

With all of our side’s itching to play after postponements, the festive period kicks off with a Boxing Day feast.

Stoke City travel to managerless Blackburn Rovers in search of a win to leapfrog the Lancashire outfit.

In League Two, Port Vale have a home tie against strugglers Lincoln City and Burton Albion travel to an in-form Northampton side.

In the Blue Square North, Stafford Rangers have a home match against Telford AFC.

The Evo Stik First Division South will play their matches on December 27 where Leek Town host their match with Belper (34 days since they last kicked a ball) and Newcastle host a derby clash with Kidsgrove Athletic.

North Staffs Football will keep you informed of any postponements, but let us know your score predictions from our games.

Port Vale statement over takeover talks

Port Vale Football Club have released a statement following talks with Newcastle-under-Lyme businessman Mo Chaudry over his takeover bid.

“Representatives of Port Vale Football Club have now met with Mr. Chaudry and his representatives. Those discussions were in confidence and any further comment from either party is inappropriate at this stage.

Mo Chaudry

The club’s board wishes to reiterate that it is committed to seeking further investment in the club.

It is enshrined within the club’s institution that no single shareholder should hold more than 24.9% of the club and this reflects the ethos of Valiant 2001, which gave rise to the club’s current structure. It is the board’s view that any new investment should adhere to Valiant 2001 principles.

Any credible and substantive investment proposals received by the club will be properly considered to evaluate their merits and appropriate action will be taken by the board in the light of such evaluation.

The team is making excellent progress this year and the support of the fans has been integral to this. The board is confident that the vast majority of supporters appreciate that stability and unity within the club is essential in the coming months, as the success of the season is defined.”

Port Vale’s next match with take place at Vale Park on Boxing Day against Lincoln City.

 

Port Vale keeper dismisses manager move

Port Vale goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson says the speculation linking manager Micky Adams with a move to Sheffield United is having no effect on the team.

Adams, 49, a Blades fan as a boy, has been linked with the job after Gary Speed left to become Wales boss.

Tomlinson told BBC Radio Stoke: “It’s speculation, I don’t think it’s affecting the gaffer or our team.

“They haven’t got a manager and ours is doing well so I suppose it makes for good reading.”

Micky Adams

Tomlinson admitted that the rumours have been discussed in the Port Vale dressing room but added that the squad see it as a compliment to how far they have come in a short space of time.

He said: “A couple of the lads have mentioned it but newspapers always need something to write about.

“He’s a good manager so obviously clubs are going to try and headhunt him but he’s doing his thing at Port Vale.

“He’s not been here that long and he’s obviously turned the club around and I’m sure he’s going to want to continue the success he’s having,” the former Barrow stopper said.

Vale sit second in League Two, two points behind leaders Chesterfield going into the Christmas period.