Vale’s Fate Is Confirmed But Moore Gets 2024/25 To Make Amends
After a long and difficult 2023/24 League One campaign, following a 2-0 defeat last weekend to promotion chasers Bolton Wanderers, Port Vale were officially relegated to League Two for the coming 2024/25 season.
Most fans had long recognised and accepted that future trips to Vale Park next season would see us return to the old fourth division, two years after we had originally again won promotion, but whilst plenty will have high hopes of bouncing back at the first time of asking, there can simply be no denying that we have been beyond poor this year but soccer odds may be more favourable next year as we look to bounce back at the first time of asking.
Fans will have their own reflections on Andy Crosby’s time in charge, but despite promise shown in his earlier spells with West Bromwich Albion, Doncaster Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday – Darren Moore’s time with us has followed the same path that saw him sacked by Huddersfield Town less than a month before we appointed him.
Eleven defeats from 16 games tells you everything you need to know, but with only ten wins all season (five of those coming in the opening six weeks) it cannot all be laid at Moore’s door – he was just simply unable to turn the wider form and performance levels around.
Back to back wins in March did have a few thinking form might turn, but with him coming in on a five and a half year deal, the fact those remain his only wins so far will not change that he will get a second attempt to turn us around next year.
Co-owner, Carol Shanahan, has already basically confirmed as much as when our relegation was confirmed and unavoidable, she stated that from the clubs’ point of view, the 49 year old absolutely remained the ‘right person to lead our development in terms of football operations’ despite the current disappointment that everyone associated with Vale are experiencing.
Shanahan’s statement on the official site also spoke about her own disappointment at how the season had ultimately gone for us, and as well as offering a heartfelt apology, she also again stated that mistakes had been made this year – but that the board would fully learn from them moving forward so there was no repeat.
With our future decided and known, at least we should now be able to firm up proper plans for the summer and that will absolutely involve some revamping of the squad to address the obvious issues that we have.
Naturally, we have issues there given contract lengths that are in play for players that many would like to see move on, and ultimately some of those who sadly may have to move on simply in order to bring in a few fresh faces that can help push us back in the right direction.
Moore himself will undoubtedly like to bring in a few of his own players, as it will obviously be his first transfer window since joining, and although our co-owner has said he will be backed, how much backing will be a challenge in itself.
There are obviously off pitch issues to fix as well, so fans could well expect a very busy summer, but whether it is as busy as Moore would like, remains to be seen.