Sentinel: Former Port Vale striker Tom Pope favours local club after he's...

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FORMER Port Vale striker Tom Pope says he would like to find another club within commuting distance of his North Staffordshire home after he was made available by Bury. That could alert Vale, who have kept in touch with the popular former Valiants goalscorer since he left the club 12 months ago. The 30 year old signed a three-year deal with Bury last year, but they have made him available on a free transfer. Tom Pope agreed a three-year deal with Bury last year That could pave the way for a...

 

 

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The Staffordshire Sentinel

 

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[Ben]

He would still be a asset for the club and pass on his experience to our young strikers who have the potential but are not yet proven it could only be a win win situation if a deal could be struck.

[robf]

Nope, sorry.

 

I'll always remember Popey's goals, especially during that promotion season but I don't think a move back to Vale would suit either side. I'm not sure he'd fit the style of play while I think his wages would be high for an ageing player.

 

I wish Tom Pope the very best of luck but I personally think he'd be better off at another club, not returning to the Vale.

[pvfc.pride.england]

Nope, sorry.

 

I'll always remember Popey's goals, especially during that promotion season but I don't think a move back to Vale would suit either side. I'm not sure he'd fit the style of play while I think his wages would be high for an ageing player.

 

I wish Tom Pope the very best of luck but I personally think he'd be better off at another club, not returning to the Vale.

 

strongly agree with you rob. very good point's and post.

[Ben]

We will have to agree to disagree then:wink:

[robf]

We will have to agree to disagree then:wink:

 

Yes, fair enough. However, give me one last chance to persuade you...

 

This is from the Bury Chronicle: "We have placed Tom on the transfer list and the loan list. Pope is another one of our high-end earners and if we offload him then it gives us the chance to reassess and rebalance the squad..."

 

So, my issue would be - 1) We know Bury paid Vale much more than Vale were prepared to 2) If we loaned him we'd have to match that 3) If we signed him I presume Pope would want similar wages. NS would need to overrule his previous decision and yet at the time he said the wages Pope wanted were unsustainable.

 

There's also a quote from Pope on the verge of his exit which suggests he's hardly likely to accept a big paycut: "If you are a salesman and you sell more than anyone else, yet your boss tells you that in order to keep you on you've got take a near 50 per cent pay cut, when another company are offering you a 70 per cent rise, what would you do? And the fact I said no just because I love working with the other salesmen and the company, yet continue to get stick, is annoying especially when I took a 60 per cent pay cut to join the company in the first place!"

 

So, for me the key stumbling block would be wages. Leaving aside his style of play, injury record and age, I can't see him coming to Vale on similar wages that he's on now and I can't see him wanting to take a huge paycut either.

[Ben]

I understand your point Rob but if a deal was struck for fairness and being sensible to both parties would you take him back?

[robf]

I understand your point Rob but if a deal was struck for fairness and being sensible to both parties would you take him back?

 

I suppose that's the big question. I'm not the person to ask but there was an interesting comment on Twitter from Norman...

 

https://twitter.com/smurfpvfc/status/755796096954302464