Clarke set for big summer calls
With a host of players out of contract at the end of the season, Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke has some big calls to make in preparation for the new campaign.
Having finished outside the playoffs this term, the next couple of months will have a major impact on whether Vale can secure promotion out of League Two next season.
Foundations in Place at Vale Park
While Clarke will be disappointed his side failed to make it to the post-season action, he will have seen promising signs that better times could be just around the corner. A nine-game unbeaten streak, which included eight wins and a draw, before the defeat to Grimsby at the start of May, shows Vale are capable of consistency.
Vale only conceded three goals in those nine games, keeping six clean sheets in the process. Clarke will certainly take encouragement from the run and will be hoping to keep hold of key figures ahead of next season.
The foundations do seem to be in place for the new campaign, as Vale look to progress up the leagues and possibly join rivals Stoke City in the Championship. The Potters also find themselves languishing in the mid-table this season; meanwhile, Brentford are the 13/8 favourites in the Championship betting to go up via the playoffs. While there is still a long way to go before Vale can think about reaching England’s second tier, there will be plenty of hope on what can be achieved next season.
Keeping Hold of Conlon
Vale supporters will be hoping the club can keep hold of star midfielder Tom Conlon, who has come on leaps and bounds this season. Teams in League One and the Championship might well be keeping tabs on the 25-year-old, who is in the running to be the club’s player of the season.
Clarke will be eager to keep Conlon at Vale Park and build a team around the local lad, seeing that he was key in helping the side go on that impressive run over March and April. While Vale will look to bring in fresh faces over the summer, Clarke also has big decisions to make regarding who should be tied down to fresh contracts over the coming weeks.
Headaches Ahead for Clarke
There are a host of players who are soon to become free agents, after working hard to earn new deals at the club. Tom Pope, Luke Joyce and Cristian Montano are just a few of the names that have their futures in the balance at Vale Park.
Director of football Dave Flitcroft will have a key role to play alongside Clarke to decide who should stay and who should go. Meanwhile, Clarke has been keen to play his cards close to his chest and to keep fans guessing on what he plans for the future.
Regardless of the comings and goings at Vale Park, it’s set to be an intriguing summer for the club, which has proved it can produce winning runs that should see them in contention for promotion next season.