Radio Stoke: Tom Pope could leave Port Vale
BBC Radio Stoke claims that striker Tom Pope could leave Port Vale as he will talk to League One rivals Doncaster Rovers this week.
Pope is one of a number of players out of contract this summer and there has been much speculation about his future.
Pope was handed a lucrative contract by former owner Paul Wildes and current chairman Norman Smurthwaite has made it clear that the club would not be able to match that.
Despite the expected wage cut, Pope has stated that he would be happy to stay with the Vale, telling the Sentinel “Why would I want to leav? I live half a mile from the ground, it’s my club and there is a great group there.” However, he also added “I am nearly 30 and I have to do what is right for myself and my family.”
The loss of Pope would be a huge blow for the Vale. The forward has scored 61 goals in the last three seasons and even though he was less than fully fit last season, he still ended the campaign as the club’s top scorer.
BBC Radio Stoke’s Graham McGarry tweeted:
Could #PVFC striker Tom Pope be heading to #DRFC more in Breakfast Sport at 830 and throughout the day on @BBCRadioStoke.
— Graham McGarry (@GMcGarrySport) May 13, 2015
Pope at Port Vale
2011: Jim Gannon signs Pope on loan from Rotherham United. He scores three times in 13 games.
2011: The move is made permanent over the summer.
2012: His Vale career starts slowly with just five goals in the season. Pope vows to improve his strike rate.
2013: Pope manages it and some! He hits 33 goals including four against former club Rotherham as he spearheads Vale’s promotion bid. He is also named as player of the year.
2014: Pope shows he can cut it in League One with sixteen goals and picks up his second successive player of the year award.
2015: Pope misses a portion of the season and is not fully fit for the second-half of the campaign but he still ends as top-scorer with 12 goals in 34 games.