Smurthwaite has meeting with managerial candidate
Norman Smurthwaite has revealed that he is talks with a potential candidate to be the club’s new manager.
Smurthwaite has claimed that there is a three man shortlist but that it does not include Paul Dickov (who was linked by media) nor Shefki Kuqi who, despite press speculation, has also been dismissed by Smurthwaite on Twitter.
The Vale owner is believed to be in the Algarve for the Football League’s traditional post-season AGM.
Smurthwaite’s tweet could be seen as a reference to a candidate recommended by Jose Mourinho as it contains the telling phrase “special qualities and contacts the man brings.” Mourinho referred to himself as the “special one” in his first spell at Chelsea and any candidate recommended by him would presumably have a wide range of contacts (such as the possibility of bringing in loan players from Mourinho’s Man Utd squad).
Smurthwaite tweeted:
I am meeting again 1 of the 3 over here in the Algarve to understand what special qualities and contacts the man brings to our great Club
— Norman Smurthwaite (@smurfpvfc) June 6, 2016