Emile

It's been a few months since I last engaged with our community here, and I wanted to share why. Supporting our club had begun to feel like a toxic endeavour, and I needed some distance. Relegation isn't the end of the world for me. While none of us want it to happen, it's a reality of football. We watch for the highs and lows, understanding that success isn't guaranteed. Accepting this fact has made it easier for me to cope with the possibility of relegation. The turning point for me was the dark cloud that settled over the club last January. Something shifted then, likely due to the club overspending beyond its means, as evidenced by the recent £3.4 million losses. While scaling back was necessary, the subsequent decisions, like removing Colin and sacking a manager for struggling with a depleted squad, felt misguided. Clarke's ability to keep us afloat last season speaks volumes about his managerial prowess. If he had to leave, we needed a replacement with a strong vision for the team. Unfortunately, the departure of key figures led to chaos on the footballing side. Last year's preseason was a disaster, culminating in a humiliating defeat on the opening day. Concerns about the quality of signings were brushed aside, with dissenting voices labelled as negative. I held hope that Darren Moore could turn things around, but his tenure has been underwhelming. His interviews offer little insight, and his inability to galvanize the team has been disappointing. However, I'm optimistic about the future under Matt Hancock's leadership. Whether Moore stays or goes, we need a manager who exudes passion and takes responsibility. Another 'yes man' won't cut it. A thorough overhaul is required, starting with releasing out-of-contract players, sending back the loans, and trying to get rid of some of the contracted players who won't cut it in League Two. Losing key players like Garrity and Ojo is a possibility, but it's essential to revitalize the team regardless. League Two offers a chance for renewal, even if immediate promotion isn't guaranteed. My hope is for a club we can be proud of again, even if it means settling for mid-table mediocrity next season. While the road ahead may be challenging, I'm hopeful that with the right leadership and fan support, we can reclaim our pride in being Vale fans once more. See you in August

Massive game for me today and I really believe lose this and we are down. I think we will win it and it will galvanise the great escape. UTV!

He clearly would be a good defensive coach. Positionally rarely out of step unless he was done for pace. Knows how to attack and defend set pieces and talked the less experienced players through the game.

Great to get some comms from the other side of the table to explain what happened in more detail. A shame it wasn't communicated at the same time as the club put out their statement as it is so much better than theirs

I think the majority of fans want to know what we discussed regarding DF. I'm sure that Carol won't have said he's getting sacked in the morning so don't worry, but was there any mention of accountability if we were to be relegated? Are they reviewing his work in the transfer windows in the last few months? Is there an understanding that some fans are prepared to give up their season tickets unless this person is removed from the club, and if so, are the club prepared to back DF and lose these fans in the process? Fans are looking for transparency and the statement released offers none of it.

Is the rift between fans and club greater, smaller or the same as before? My answer is the same, if not worse, as fans are frustrated by the lack of communication regarding this meeting, the lack of transparency on what was communicated and the outcomes of the meeting.

Surely the words 'begin to' relate to something immediately happening? Have they begun to heal the rift? It seems to me that the statement has just maintained the status quo. Opening dialogue, yep dialogue has been opened.

Do you believe the aim was achieved? Have the club begun to heal the rift between club and fans? I don't see it personally.

I didn't say I expected him to be sacked. I asked what the purpose of the meeting was and if it achieved it's objectives. I don't think it has achieved anything unless it was to maintain the infighting and discontent amongst supporters

I think you are being a little harsh on these groups that are trying to do good for the club with very little reward. But I do agree, without any real explanation of the meeting it hasn't done anything to appease the general supporter who wants info. You could argue that's because these groups have chosen not to be public about the meeting and are happy to have the information for themselves. If the club want to appease the fans then they should announce an open forum now for the end of the season. No pre-approved questions and film it for those who can't make it (with proper audio as the last one was not listenable).

You have to question what the point of the meeting was. I guess, the supporters requested the meeting because they are feeling the resentment building in the club between the fans and the owner. Did this meeting quell this resentment? The answer on here is clearly no.

He wasn't very good but much better than Grant. That's the problem here - we had some fairly average / rubbish players who we got rid of and replaced them with very rubbish players.

Can I suggest 'sexualsmithy' for his new name?

I just think that supporting the team will have a better impact than abusing them. I don't think the players are as bad as they are showing currently and I think AC should have had his squad in the top 12 before January. That being said, we need a proper clear out of players in the summer regardless of what league we are in. Players like Massey, Ojo, Loft, Wilson and Jones have proved they're either not good enough or not prepared to do everything for the shirt. We also need to look at the playing budget - how have we got such a small squad supported by under 18s? And finally, we need a new head of player recruitment - the last 3 transfer windows have left gaping holes in the squad that is gross misconduct - it can't happen again in the summer.

I haven't agreed with much you have said over the last few months however I totally agree with you here. I'm as fed up as the next person and I started raising my concerns last April with how let down I was feeling as a fan. I will however never resort to name calling, personal abuse of anyone (including other fans) in order to show my passion for the club. I also don't think lining the players up and giving them a mouthful would help. I think we have to support the players, will that ball into the goal (or at least towards it for the first time in a while) in the hope that we can perform the great escape. At the end of the season lots of questions need to be asked and for me, the sooner DF is out of the club the better. I'm certain we can find someone else to do his job better, they could hardly do it any worse

Plant ahead of Mighton for me

We will win this!

Anyone got any goss on the player who was training with us and has now been sent on their merry way?

I think we can still do it ..

Think Rudgie deserves a break But I do wonder what his opinion on DF is

I said it in the summer and was told I was being stupid as we hadn't assembled a squad or kicked a ball - but it was pretty obvious where this was heading

To be clear - I am 100% against Carol and Kevin selling the club unless they want to get out / can find someone willing to pump in a load of money into the club. Although bad decisions have been made, I don't want to lose the best owners we have had in my lifetime

I made this thread so I could show the difference between the % of people who want Carol to sell the club vs wanting DF to be relieved of his duties.

I think choosing not to renew your season ticket because you are not enjoying going to games is fair enough. Football clubs don't have a god given right to your cash That's a different way of framing it to protesting against the DOF and / or owner

We need 19pts to ensure safety Write off these games; Derby, Bolton, Leyton Orient Very winnable games = Fleetwood, Exeter, Shrewsbury, Cambridge = 12 pts That leaves Wigan (A), Oxford (H), Burton (A), Bristol Rovers (H), and Northampton (A) for 8 points. I still think we can stay up, but its going to be really close and I think we will go into the Cambridge game needing a win to stay up.