Departing Tom Pope is grateful for his Port Vale spell
Port Vale supporter Tom Pope says he feels “lucky to have played as long as I did for Port Vale” after he left the club to join Bury.
Pope turned down an offer of a new contract in favour of a three-year offer from Bury and he explained his reasons to the Sentinel newspaper.
But this isn’t just for me it is for my family. I would have liked nothing more than to sign a new deal with Port Vale…
Pope commented: “It was massively difficult. Everyone who knows me knows I am a Vale fan and half my friends and family are season ticket holders.
“But this isn’t just for me it is for my family. I would have liked nothing more than to sign a new deal with Port Vale but the club have had to make a decision with season-ticket sales and their money coming in. What I was asked to take was too much of a cut, especially with lots of other clubs interested in me.”
“I feel lucky to have played as long as I did for Port Vale and achieved what we did.
“The lads there are brilliant and I hope Rob Page can kick on and have a successful season.
“I don’t want to fall out with anyone. The chairman has to look after the club and run it as close to a profit as he can to keep it going.
“But I can’t change the finances of the club so I have had to make the decision that is best for me and my family. I have no complaints about Port Vale.
“But now this is a new chapter in my career.”