Bede

He's the total opposite.

Which would have cost less: Signing someone like Johnson Clarke Harris in a bid to retain league 1 status. Signing nobody, sacking and paying off Crosby & Dunn, and bringing in Moore & his 4 assistants, with relegation a very distinct possibility, with the catastrophic financial implications that relegation brings. Sometimes, we have to accept that progress costs money. If someone tells you there’s a better way, they are bullshitting.

Unfortunately, it simply doesn’t work like that. When Norman was in control, myself and Mark Porter approached Carol at the time when she had failed to publicly buy the club from Norman and had therefore withdrawn her interest from buying the club. I’ll reveal no more than that, other than to say we built up a dialogue based on trust. Months later, Carol buys the club. Latterly, that same group of people had grave concerns for the club’s future and approached the club with their concerns. That former trust led to some forthright discussions. The intention was to minute everything and release all to the fans. However, a very large chunk of information was incredibly sensitive and private, which provided background to explanations behind certain decisions, and was therefore simply not sensible to publicly reveal, so we respected the wish to not minute the information. We could have destroyed that trust and revealed lots of sensitive information, or we could have just walked out due to us not being allowed to relay much back to the fanbase, but either of those scenarios would not have facilitated the discussions that we had that, for one led to the dismissal of Flitcroft, and secondly will now lead to greater fan engagement with the club going forward. I’m entitled, as a fan, to counter someone stating something as fact, when I believe it not to be a fact. Unfortunately, if I’m told something in confidence then that confidence will remain, because I uphold integrity. However, I do agree with some of your points, and this will be my fear with how the club get it right in relation to fan engagement. Having been involved with fans’ groups for over 20 years, off and on, I’ve seen no shortage of people get involved for the wrong reasons. And worse than that, a very large percentage can’t resist temptation to sound off to folk. It’s a tough balance, hinging on blind faith.

Yes, The SC has a committee of around 12. Back under V2001, we had a ‘sub board’ exactly like that described in that article. It consisted of a couple of original V2001 steering group members, 2 SC reps, a couple of VaST reps (I was one), a couple from the ex-players association and a couple of others. It later morphed into the Port Vale Volunteers’ Group, and I was secretary for several years. It had some relative success actually, not least because it brought together fans’ groups that, at that time, had some awful relations with each other. The politics back in those days were horrendous. Now, we only have the Supporters’ Club, that recently became a trust, then North London Valiants and Super Vale Abroad, that both have links with the SC. Thankfully there are no warring factions anymore amongst fans’ groups.

No.

That's interesting, because during my recent dealings with the club, I was told entirely different 'facts' regarding Colin's exit from the club.

Yay!

Indeed. Bob in the Bull's Head had a right cob on with me when we were boycotting Vale during the V2001 era. Burslem was dead.

Salford?

This'll go down well.......

Dave, at what point will you begin to question the sustainability of these losses? I'm certainly not lauding how much they are putting it, I'm bloody terrified.

They are. We don't even have a balanced enough squad to field a proper starting eleven as it stands, without compromise of playing people out of position. Absolutely criminal.

Get in. Carlisle win.

opening up a bit now after a frantic start to the second half by Cheltenham. Could be a counter on for Carlisle if they're patient.

I've signed up to their Ifollow to watch it! Carlisle look threatening. Going ok! Sorry Dazzler but we need this. League 1 next season looks to be brilliant!

Can you stop peddling this. It's incorrect.

Haha, thankfully some of it still in there! Thank you.

Jesus - I'd long resigned David Rocastle to the Alzheimer's part of my brain. Thanks for dredging that one back! Like a helicopter missing its tail rotor.

I used to play for then later manage Portly. It's 15+ years since those days though. Played on Vale Park once in some charity match - before Clarke had the pitch reduced in size. It was ridiculous!

Officially a director.

I genuinely hope that she apologises for that. It was utterly ludicrous to publish.

No.

Having personally dealt with Matt all throughout this 'process', I'd appeal for us all to let the dust settle and show the man a bit of respect. He has been true to every word that he has said to me and others and I believe that the club will change for the better in the coming weeks and months. Rest assured, I won't <ovf censored> rest unless it does. We're <ovf censored> on the pitch. We're angry in the stands. We've all been treated poorly and left behind. But these aren't bad people, they have just had bad judgement and bad advice. We're trying to change that, and they are listening. Let's give them a chance to repair that.

Imagine.

Official.