O’Connor: Vale is a great club but the drive is too long
Out-of-contract midfielder Michael O’Connor says he would consider a move closer to his Lincolnshire home in the summer.
Owner Norman Smurthwaite revealed last summer that O’Connor and his family were settled in Lincolnshire but was prepared to undertake a long commute to play for Vale this season.
Vale is a great club to be at. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, even the driving. But I don’t think anyone who’s out of contract knows what they’re doing…
O’Connor told the press on the club’s media day that: “If a club came in closer to home, depending on what league they’re in and who it is, I’d consider it. All that driving, being stuck in traffic, then getting out to train when you’ve been sat in the car for two and a half hours – it’s what you do because you have to pay the bills.
“But it’s hard going. I sometimes try to stay over on Thursdays to break up the driving a bit. But to do two years like that, I need patting on the back.
“Vale is a great club to be at. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, even the driving. But I don’t think anyone who’s out of contract knows what they’re doing.
“I’ve not been offered a third year. It’s not nice being out of contract and not knowing what you’re doing next year. It plays on you a bit, especially if you have a young family and bills to pay.”