National newspaper links Port Vale manager with Walsall switch
John Askey linked with Walsall: tabloid newspaper The Star says that League One strugglers Walsall have expressed an interest in Port Vale manager John Askey.
Walsall have appointed Martin O’Connor as temporary boss until the end of this campaign but will be looking to make a permanent appointment in the summer.
Askey has impressed after a slow start to his Port Vale reign but the former Macclesfield Town manager was controversially only given a contract until the end of the season by the club.
With Port Vale’s future in doubt due to current owner Norman Smurthwaite’s threat to put the club into administration, Askey has duly been linked to other clubs.
The Port Vale boss was among the favourites for the Oldham Athletic role after Paul Scholes resigned and with the Latics opting for caretaker manager Pete Wild, Askey is still in contention for another summer move.
The news that manager John Askey linked with Walsall in addition to interest from Walsall and Oldham and potentially two attractive job vacancies in the summer will only increase the pressure on the club to sort out its ownership issues and issue the manager with a long-term contract. Otherwise, they could risk losing their manager to their League Two rivals.