A recent poll of fans on the onevalefan website indicates that 83% of those who voted think that Director of Football David Flitcroft should leave the club.
Poll result
Should David Flitcroft be sacked?
- Yes (83%)
- No (8%)
- Unsure (9%)
Editorial note: this poll obviously does not contain the views of the entire Vale fanbase but nevertheless OVF believes it offers a good indication of how the wider fanbase feels.
Tuesday night’s result saw the Valiants slip into the relegation zone after an insipid 1-0 home defeat to Leyton Orient. If it hadn’t have been for goalkeeper Connor Ripley the scoreline would have been even more comprehensive.
Flitcroft is under immense pressure at this time and our poll indicates that the vast majority of fans have lost patience.
The Valiants recently sacked manager Andy Crosby after a poor run of results, but many fans feel that problems run deeper than replacing a manager. While Crosby marshalled events on the pitch, he wasn’t responsible for the current unbalanced, inexperienced, injury and error-prone squad. Flitcroft and his team are responsible for the appointment of Crosby in the first place as well as the Vale’s repeated failures in transfer windows. Furthermore, Flitcroft was criticised for not taking charge of the side following Crosby’s departure and leaving it in the hands of inexperienced Will Ryder.
The Valiants are now looking for a replacement for Crosby and according to statements on the official website, Flitcroft confirmed he was leading the search for a replacement. However, this poll result indicates that rather than looking to add a new head coach to the Port Vale payroll, he should instead be looking to remove himself from it.
Related post
Opinion: why is inexperienced Will Ryder and not former manager David Flitcroft on the Port Vale bench?
Rob Fielding asks why the Valiants have opted for a managerial team with no experience for a must-win game when there is a Director of Football who has managed over 300 games available? Read more
The owners have all of a sudden gone very quiet it is time to take responsibility and sack flitcroft and start again with a new experience manager
The fact DF did not get stuck in last night to steady the reins and left to rookies says it all. You don’t walk away and hide. You step up and be accountable. That is what was required last night – leadership. This shows no backbone or fight and is totally out of touch with what fans would expect. To me it indicates they don’t really care.
Has no one heard the expression
To many cooks spoil the broth ! So get rid of the cooks and get in one CHEF !
I am amazed as to why our club has gone this season from doing very well indeed to, and it hurts me to say ,useless. Exactly the same as last season. Perhaps the problem was not Darrell or Andy but upstairs. What does the job title ‘Director of Football’ entail. I can’t see much Directing going on so Flitters pick your bags.
Unless the specialist job of recruiting a new Vale Manager is outsourced/contracted out, it’s most likely Flitcroft will remain at the club for the time being with his DOF responsibilities intact. That means using his contacts to bring in the replacement team Manager whose first brief will be purely to save the club from relegation. The new man will not be distracted by any other football matters, which will be absorbed by Flitcroft. While that would go against the majority of supporter opinion and wishes, the owners would ride the storm if the club secures League 1 safety. Another question is how to enforce / terminate the employment of Flitcroft if the DOF role is enmeshed with club’s Board. Of course, Flitcroft may resign or leave by mutual consent, but that might still be only after the new Manager is brought in. That all said, Flitcroft’s absence from team matters last night does seem a dereliction of duty, presumably discussed beforehand with the owners.
He’s out for his own ends. Look at Bury I fear the worst I really do. No comment from the club
David Flitcroft
get out of our club
I’d rather see a statement of intent from the players on the pitch.Than some half hearted appeasing statement from the club.
As for Flitcroft is someone did their job on the pitch to the same standards that you are doing your (made up) job.Then you would be sacking them.Your failure shines through.That is the only part that glows on your CV.
I would love to see John Rudge take over in the short term to get us out of the mire.
The guy is an abject failure. He needs to go now. Come on Carol for your own good and that of your beloved club get him gone today
I too have the feeling of what happened at previous clubs, this man as disaster and bullshit all over him
Well said Carol to all the doubters who don’t know what it takes to run a football club and think it’s a given to win every match. Maybe people will start thinking about what they wish for because next time you might get Carol walking away and you couldn’t really blame her for that either. Up the vale now stop moaning and get behind them all. M.
keates vale till I die
Oh Carol , I am not a fool and neither are the 83% of supporters who want Flitcroft out . The profit made was not DF making it but the players being sold as he oversaw the progress of young players . Why was the operating profit not put into ready made players able to enhance VALE on the pitch .The various transfer windows past crying out for a goal scorer and DF knowing failed to recruit –THIS BEING HIS JOB . Any decent manager would have done the same top to bottom improvements at the club realising the first team is the critical job for any future . The 83% are not personal friends of DF so look at the present situation and find it strange to say the least . DF should have taken the team on against Orient then he would have realised what the fall guy Crosby has had to work with .What manager would want the Vale with DF in the wings pulling the strings when they have seen 3 people so far leave the club realising there are deep problems at this club . Losing one friend is better than losing thousands and certainly better for the club . DF must go before a manager is even interviewed .
It’s time all the unsettled absent fans take a long hard look at the statement from Carol, she OWNS the club, it is hers not ours, rightly or wrongly she has faith in the DOF, let them do their job and let us do ours, if this ends with her feeling she has no option but to leave, who buys this club? It is to some extent in our hands, get behind them and turn up to do so. The players are now terrified to play…because of us. Be very careful what you wish for, while we still have a club.
Flitcroft out
Please Carol listen to the fans
83% of how many who completed the poll?
600 fans who responded to the poll. As it says “of fans who responded” so it’s clearly not the whole fanbase but I feel it is enough to give an indication of overall feelings.
The next manager has to be his own man. This can only happen if Flitcroft also leaves the club.