Smurthwaite: We need more fans to turn up
Port Vale co-owner Norman Smurthwaite has told the Sentinel that Port Vale’s crowds will need to improve considerably if the club are to climb up the league.
They might still call themselves fans, but if they don’t come to the ground are they really fans?
Smurthwaite told the newspaper: “History shows the club had a larger fanbase in years gone by, and they haven’t all died or moved away.
“There are a lot of people who used to come here, but who became disenchanted for one reason or another.
“They might still call themselves fans, but if they don’t come to the ground are they really fans?
“If supporters want to stay in League Two, then 5,000 crowds will deliver League Two football.
“I don’t want to stay in League Two. I want to be in League One next season, but the fanbase must follow us.
“If we do get promoted, we’ll be keen to give Micky Adams the ability to strengthen the squad, but it depends on supporters.
“An average of between 7,500 and 8,000, with perhaps 5,000 season tickets, would be achievable.”