Mid-table campaign expectations for Port Vale FC
After almost qualifying to the 2019-20 League Two playoffs, Port Vale FC expectations aren’t high, and the team is pushing for a mid-table finish this season, sitting now eleven places behind a playoff spot.
The Valiants are currently going through a rough patch, after John Askey was sacked and first-team coach Danny Pugh was promoted as interim manager. But with many matches still to play, there’s still some hope around Vale Park, that a new manager could come, turn things around and lead the team to a League One promotion – Port Vale’s odds to finish top 7 are 28/1 with STSBet, and 50/1 to be promoted.
John Askey dismissal
A former member of the team’s youth academy, John Askey joined the club as manager in February 2019, replacing Neil Aspin. He managed to steer the club away from relegation by the end of the 2018-19 season. With a good approach in the summer transfer window, he was able to bring in key players, such as Mark Cullen, David Amoo, Scott Burgess and Jake Taylor, who took on important roles in the squad sheet. He even led the team to a 3rd round FA Cup campaign, beating Milton Keynes Dons and Cheltenham Town, before falling to top-flight contenders Manchester City, which earned the team quite good sums of income.
Furthermore, under his command, the team reached 8th place in the League Two table, and had high chances of a promotion run, when the season was shortened due to the Covid-19 pandemic. After a good start to the 2020-21 season, Port Vale started to show a lack of good performances, and by Boxing Day the team had one win in ten League matches. Following a 4-0 loss at Mansfield Town, the board sacked John Askey and assistant manager Dave Kevan.
Danny Pugh tenure
And so began Danny Pugh’s run as Port Vale FC interim manager. For his first match, the former midfielder made some changes to the team’s formation, promoted the return of David Worrall to the starting lineup, and made Tom Conlon his new captain. This resulted in the Valiants’ first win in 6 matches, with an astounding 3-0 triumph over Grimsby Town, with goals by Brisley and Rodney and an own-goal by Waterfall. However, a 2-0 loss to Sunderland in the Football League Trophy, an away draw against Forest Green, and two straight losses to Walsall and Scunthorpe, left fans thinking Pugh wouldn’t be able to lift the spirits around Vale Park.
David Flitcroft’s appointment
Just before the match against Southend United, on January 30th, Port Vale chair Carol Shanahan announced that Danny Pugh had not applied for a permanent manager position, and so the search for a new gaffer would continue. For that match, he made several changes to the team, promoted Cristian Montano and Devante Rodney to the starting eleven and went on to win the duel 5-1, with a great performance by Rodney. Even with the lack of good results, the changes made by Pugh improved the team’s form, resulting in their odds for a promotion run shortening to 28/1.
After a 3-1 loss to Tranmere Rovers, it seemed that Danny Pugh’s tenure was coming to an end, as the board of directors had engaged in talks with manager David Flitcroft. However, on February 8th, Flitcroft was appointed as the club’s Director of Football, leaving fans questioning if this was the right move for the team’s future.
Currently, Port Vale FC places 16th in the League Two table, with 32 points and 18 matches to be played. So Flitcroft’s task to find a new manager to lead the Valiants to the League Two play-offs will be a tough one.