Vale owner: two new manager candidates, no player contracts agreed

Port Vale Chairman Norman Smurthwaite has tweeted that two of the three shortlisted candidates are effectively out of contention and he is interviewing two more people. He also says no out-of-contract players have agreed contracts.

Note: article updated since first publication with further tweets

Earlier this month, Smurthwaite had indicated that he had three shortlisted contenders but he now says he will interview two more contenders as two of his previous shortlist have been ruled out.

In the meantime, Friday was the deadline for the club’s eight out-of-contract players to agree new deals and Smurthwaite appears to indicate that none of them have accepted. If the claims are true then Vale currently have just nine contracted players and no manager.

In a series of tweets on Friday night Smurthwaite said:

https://twitter.com/smurfpvfc/status/741364752899772416

https://twitter.com/smurfpvfc/status/741365200037806080

https://twitter.com/smurfpvfc/status/741365844345819136

https://twitter.com/smurfpvfc/status/741366353882456064

https://twitter.com/smurfpvfc/status/741366832880291840

https://twitter.com/smurfpvfc/status/741375584748634112

https://twitter.com/smurfpvfc/status/741376000844517376