Port Vale manager Darren Moore has told the local media that due to the size of his squad he expects some players to leave in the January transfer window.
Here’s what Moore told the media.
Players leaving in the January transfer window
Following the January additions of Jaheim Headley, Jemiah Omolu, Ryan Broome and the re-signing of Rhys Walters, Vale now have a senior squad of 36 players…
There are one or two looking at our players now so do I envisage players leaving? Yes I do. It’s just a matter of time because we are still very early in the window. We understand there are one or two players that maybe looking to seek an opportunity elsewhere.
Any more additions?
No, not that we envisage. If anything, it is players leaving the building.
The goalkeeping situation
There were eyebrows raised when Vale brought in loanee Ryan Broome apparently to cover Connor Ripley’s paternity leave. However, Moore has now revealed that Vale’s third-choice keeper Arron Davies is also missing…
Young (keeper) Arron Davies has had to deal with a personal situation at home that the club has been supporting him with. A lot of people won’t have seen that. So, when I say we were down to one keeper, it was because of that situation. There have been a lot of training sessions where we have had to address that goalkeeper situation. What it means for Connor (Ripley, who is on paternity leave) is he just comes back into the building. He has been at home and is allowed to be at home, not doing work but spending time with his family. So, when he comes back in he needs more work to get back up to speed again. We have had to take that into consideration.
Rhys Walters finally agreeing a new contract
Youth team graduate Rhys Walters signed a three and a half year deal months after being offered a deal. The signing has been hindered by injury and negotiations with Walters’ agent…
To have Rhys back in the building is excellent for us. Rhys and his family know what we think of him, they have been well aware from day one how we see him. He is a young player so part of it was out of his control which we can appreciate.
Jayden Stockley, Rakeem Harper and George Byers
All three have been sidelined by injury recently…
They are back and available. It’s now what kind of shape we deem they are in and where we feel they are at.

In and out and shake it all about that’s the story of the Vale squad in this Window. .
Me personally I would think Darren Moore should leave in the transfer window.So we are not going to get a decent striker, or a midfielder with vision, maybe even a centre half who can command the back line.I think you know you have blown it Darren,for once a manager has been given the backing of the owners and he does a Flitcroft.
Never known such a large squad of players for a club at div2 level. Byers seems to be a expensive injury prone player, Grant is another one is on the injury list again. A squad of 36 is crazy and the wage bill must be enormous.
Hey VALE FAN,where would you like us to be?in swindons place,staring at relegation ?or in the playoff positions?so we have had a bad run,others around us will and have,darren moore has not blown it,i am confident that come may we will be in league ONE,with the players we have,SEE YOU THERE
How can port vale afford such a large team what is Darren Moore doing if we don’t go up this season my god he has got to go or he will bankrupt the club
Everyone is entitled to an opinion and all the comments here have substance. However the manager has such a large squad because a lot of the players were here when he took over and had contracts up to summer 2025. If this was not the case I am sure a lot of those players would have been released. Generally I would say Moore’s recruitment has strengthened the team and squad. Players like Smith who has been in all the sides that have been relegated since2017,and have poor goals conceded records is one who must go in the summer. I agree a commanding centre half is a must for next season, but Harper if we can keep him, Garrity,Byers and Croasdale with one good addition are good enough for this division or the one above. Another forward who has a good goalscoring record is also a must. Moore will clear out the deadwood at the end of the season and I would expect to see a squad size of 26 to 28. Hopefully our injury list will be better from now until the end of the season and with our better players back I fully expect us to go up. With our best team out I think we are the best team in the division and hope for the rest of the season our results will show this.
Having looked at the comments I would be interested.in knowing if Carol truthfully believes that the squad is good enough for the Vale to give their loyal supporters something to be proud of for the rest of the season
We have got to win today because all the teams below us are in better form & if we lose we will be tumbling down the table like a lead weight . Vale need to find their winning ways again quickly as it will be a hard slog to get back up table again.
To Mr PVFC , Nathan Smith has also been part of every team promoted during that time! So with your logic he’s one we must keep ??
I agree with Ian about smithie he must stay get rid of Grant waste of time would not put him in my 5 a side team I am 64 and could do better then him I know I could