Should Vale be moving quicker to replace Rob Page?
Rob Fielding hopes that the delay to appoint a new manager is for a good reason as the club face losing out on targets.
Rob Fielding writes…
The news that Louis Dodds have left and captain Carl Dickinson is worried about a “massive” paycut should set alarm bells ringing at Vale Park.
Will any quality replacements be left if we leave it too long?
This website is not calling for a panic appointment but surely it doesn’t take another three weeks (as indicated by a recent tweet by Norman Smurthwaite) to bring someone in? Even if it is (as one may suspect) someone under contract, can’t an agreement be reached (financially) to end the contract early and get them in sooner?
I appealed for an early appointment when Rob Page left with my argument being that we need to stop out-of-contract players having their heads turned by other clubs and to not miss out on potential targets during a crucial part of the summer. However, it seems that Vale have adopted precisely the opposite approach and won’t be rushed into a new managerial appointment.
It could still work. The new man may be able to wave a magic wand and bring in replacements but there’s two problems with that… Firstly, will any quality replacements be left if we leave it too long? Secondly, Page constantly praised the squad’s togetherness and so did several players. Without cheerleader Dodds (renowned as someone who binds the players together off the pitch) how long will a massively changed squad take to gel? As Newcastle and Aston Villa fans know – a team of individuals counts for significantly less rather than a bonded and unified squad.
In my view it’s simple. If Vale have lined up a replacement then they need to get their skates on and appoint him sooner rather than later.