Outstanding servant – Darrell Clarke denies rift with former striker Tom Pope
Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke has denied he fell out with former striker Tom Pope last season.
Pope made a series of allegations about his final months at the club during an interview on the popular podcast Ale and the Vale and Clarke was asked about that at a Port Vale Supporters Club Q&A.
No way will I ever be disrespectful to Tom Pope, he has been an outstanding servant to this football club…
The manager told the audience: “Tom Pope has been a legend at this football club for the nine years he has served. I am not going to be critical of Tom Pope, he has been a fantastic player.
“I am not going to shirk the question either. I came into a football club where Tom was injured and miles behind, in my opinion, on his fitness levels.
“The team was on a winning run towards the end of the season and the team more or less picked itself. Tom was disappointed that I only gave him the one game at the end of the season, which I understand.
“It was understanding that the lads were on a good run and I wanted to keep the flow going.
“No way will I ever be disrespectful to Tom Pope, he has been an outstanding servant to this football club.
“I don’t have a problem with Tom Pope.”
Tom Pope at Vale Park
A selection of our recent articles on the post-war record goalscorer.