Port Vale have gone through five managers since April 2023, a period that has taken the club from League One uncertainty to League Two promotion and back into another relegation scrap. Supporters following the club’s fortunes can start using the mobile betting platform to track odds and fixtures. The managerial carousel has not stopped turning at Vale Park, and below is a look at each of the men who have taken charge.
Andy Crosby (April 2023 – February 2024)
Andy Crosby came in on an interim basis in April 2023 following the departure of Darrell Clarke, then earned the permanent job the following month. He had experience as an assistant at several clubs and brought a straightforward, fitness-focused approach to Vale Park.
Over 44 games in charge, Crosby won 14, drew 11, and lost 19, producing a win rate of 31.8%. Vale were struggling in the lower half of League One throughout much of his tenure. By February 2024, with the club sitting 20th after one win in eight games, the board moved on. He was dismissed on 5 February 2024.
Will Ryder, Matt Done, and Danny Lloyd – caretakers (February 2024)
With no permanent appointment ready, Port Vale turned to the unusual arrangement of putting three members of the first-team staff – Will Ryder, Matt Done and Danny Lloyd – in temporary charge following Crosby’s exit.
The trio oversaw just two matches between 5 and 13 February 2024, drawing one and losing one. It was never a long-term solution, and within a week, the club had moved to appoint a permanent successor.
Darren Moore (February 2024 – December 2025)
Darren Moore arrived on 13 February 2024, just over two weeks after being sacked by Huddersfield Town. He was experienced at this level, having previously managed West Bromwich Albion, Doncaster Rovers, and Huddersfield, and his appointment was seen as a significant upgrade.
Moore’s record across 100 matches read 36 wins, 27 draws, and 37 defeats, a win rate of 36%. That headline figure does not tell the full story. The 2024-25 season ended with Port Vale winning promotion from League Two, the standout achievement of his time at the club. But the following campaign in League One proved far more difficult, and a heavy defeat to Huddersfield Town on 27 December 2025 brought his tenure to an end the next day.
Jamie Smith – caretaker (December 2025 – January 2026)
Jamie Smith stepped into the dugout on a temporary basis after Moore’s departure. He oversaw two matches, winning one and losing one, before the club confirmed his successor. It was a brief but steady period in difficult circumstances, with Port Vale sitting in a precarious League One position heading into January 2026.
Jon Brady (January 2026 – present)
Jon Brady was appointed on 6 January 2026 on an 18-month contract, arriving from Northampton Town where he had developed a reputation for building competitive, well-organised sides on modest budgets. The Australian, 50 years old at the time of appointment, inherited a side 10 points adrift of safety.
In nine matches in charge of the Valiants, Brady won three, drew two and lost four, a return of 33.3%. The task ahead of him remains substantial, but results have been mixed rather than disastrous, and his focus has been on instilling a clear identity and some defensive resilience. How Port Vale start the 2026-27 season will go a long way to shaping how his tenure is ultimately judged.
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