Former Valiants: former manager praises for “significant” role in Motherwell success
Former Port Vale manager Martin Foyle has been praised by Scottish club Motherwell for playing a “significant” part in their recent success.
The former Port Vale striker, coach and manager spent six years as head of recruitment at Fir Park but will head back down south this summer to take up the same position at Northampton Town.
Martin was involved in the successful recruitment of a string of players who not only contributed greatly in claret and amber, but also helped generate transfer fees for the club…
Motherwell enjoyed great success during Foyle’s time, finishing third in the Scottish Premiership last season and reaching two cup finals the year before.
A club statement praised Foyle saying: “Martin was involved in the successful recruitment of a string of players who not only contributed greatly in claret and amber, but also helped generate transfer fees for the club.
“We wish Martin all the best for the future.”
Foyle and the Vale
The player
Martin Foyle first joined Port Vale back in 1991 when John Rudge paid a club record £375,000 fee to take him from Oxford United. It proved to be an excellent purchase. Foyle set a post-war record of 108 goals, which was only recently beaten by Tom Pope as well as winning player of the year twice, top scorer on four occasions and won the Autoglass Trophy in 1993 followed by promotion in 1994.
Coach and manager
Foyle moved on to the coaching staff at Vale Park and took over as manager in 2004 following the departure of Brian Horton. However, after a promising couple of seasons, he lost his job after a disastrous 2006-2007 season. He finished with a 37% win ratio from 184 games in charge. Arguably his greatest talent was bringing in forward talent. Foyle had recommended Steve Brooker to Horton and also brought in Leon Constantine and Akpo Sodje when in charge of the Valiants.