Port Vale 2024 retained list – Wilson, Massey and Leutwiler released
With the majority of the squad under contract, Port Vale have announced three players have been released.
The trio are James Wilson, Gavin Massey and Jayson Leutwiler. Meanwhile, Lewis Cass, Deklan Wynne and Uche Ikpeazu are in talks about their future.
There are sixteen players who are already under contract including summer additions Conor Grant and Jason Lowe and deadline day signing Ryan Loft.
Perhaps tellingly the club’s press release says “the club is currently in conversation with several first-team and academy players and their representatives” which suggests there may be moves to release, transfer or loan some of the under-contract players.
Retained list in detail
Released: Wilson, Massey, Leutwiler
Awaiting conversation: Cass
In talks: Wynne, Ikpeazu
Youth team players offered deals: Buah, Walters, Shorrock, Davies
Loan spells expired: Gore, Weir, Lopata, Mighten
Under contract: Chislett, Clarke, Debrah, Dipepa, Garrity, Grant, Iacovitti, Jones, Loft, Lomax, Lowe, Ojo, Plant, Ripley, Sang, Smith
The released trio’s Port Vale careers
Gavin Massey: joined on a free transfer in July 2022, he made 98 appearances scoring four times.
Jayson Leutwiler: signed in June 2023, he made four appearances all in cup competitions.
James Wilson: born in Biddulph the striker joined Vale in June 2021. He scored fifteen times in his first season including one in Vale’s play-off final win at Wembley. He totalled 23 goals from 105 games.
Ian Mountford
29th April 2024 @ 8:58 pm
If Moore considers Ikpeazu good enough to spearhead our promotion push, or if our finances dictate this is the quality of personnel we will attract, Vale will be in for a very difficult season. I really do fear for Vale’s future under Moore.
Marco polo
29th April 2024 @ 8:59 pm
At least by keeping Chislett+ Garrity we have some Goals behind a New striker .
David Brown
30th April 2024 @ 12:02 am
No surprises here. A contract extension for Cass would improve defensive cover for League 2 level. It’ll be interesting to see who has the final say on new signings before next season.
Daniel Heath
30th April 2024 @ 1:42 am
Sorry, my last comment wasn’t written very well. I can’t believe we’ve let Wilson go. The lad will shine Again and division two that lad has Got skill, he has to summit to recover and train madness. Hopefully we can Keep Uche The tank it will just run straight over them and I think it will be badness to let him go also I know we’re a big lad and can probably only manage 70 minutes but maybe over the summer if he got Fitted 90 he could do but that man watching him with a few better plays around him to put the ball into his chest and not in the air or on the ground they won’t be able to handle him to. We must keep. Uche.
JB
30th April 2024 @ 11:13 am
Daniel Heath? Did you watch the Vale this season?!… ”I can’t believe we’ve let Wilson go” Well I CAN believe it quite easily. The guy is made from glass and he’s meant to be at the peak of his powers at 28yrs and altho he did better in League 2 (in a promotion chasing side obviously) there is little point retaining a player who has a proven lack of scoring ability even when he is fit. Uche also worries me unless more an impact sub for the last 30mins… Its a shame we cant get rid of a lot more deadwood next season. Ideally for me it would have been Chizle, Debrah, Dipepa, Garrity, Plant & Ripley only… and then focus on a really good hardworking spine that gets the ball forward fast. In league 2 on average if the ball is in the final third more so, there are teams who will make mistakes and cant handle the press. Partly why this year has been abject is there was too much dilly dally in the first third, and we hadn’t got the skills to move it thru the pitch easily. And certainly no players to use the overlaps and width of the pitch. Moore, figure out the style of play and enlist who you can (not many players to do this though) to suit that approach please!
David raftery
30th April 2024 @ 12:30 pm
Loosing three players plus the four loanees means there is room for seven new signings at least another forward plus three wide players of quality and a defender with leadership qualities we might have a chance give Moore time before criticising him with negative comments
Mr Michael Mottershead
1st May 2024 @ 11:16 am
Should have kept willson he is a good player. He would do well in division two a class player
Ken from North Wales
1st May 2024 @ 1:09 pm
If the manager relents and gives Wilson another chance on a short term contract it could be a big gamble. I wonder if Mick Mottershead who I played with at Rpoebuck and Biddulph Youth Centre.
Michael Mottershead
15th May 2024 @ 10:41 pm
Ken.from norhwales
Who are you I don’t remember you. You didn’t finish your comment