19 hours ago, Walka003 said:

I've been a huge supporter of Hancock, but he can go Fck himself. 

The decision to continue with the same recruitment team is either born out of blind loyalty or sheer laziness.

The chances of double relegation are way higher than promotion next year. With that charlatan in charge of finding players it will be very difficult for Brady next year. 

 

16 hours ago, Alan Vit said:

"the club will appoint a Chief Scout within the recruitment department, overseen by Senior Head of Recruitment, Lee Darnborough. The Chief Scout will play a key role in identifying and evaluating talent as part of a strengthened recruitment process

This development also coincides with the establishment of a new Football Leadership Team, bringing together key areas of the football operation, with support from other key staff, including Head of Academy Danny Lloyd and Head of Football Administration Jess Frost. "

I would respectfully suggest that you and some others on OVF sometimes run on auto-criticise.

Let's dismiss the impact of the new Chief Scout before we even have the faintest idea who that new Chief Scout might be.

In fact let's pretend that this change is not even happening, and the club is just going to continue with the same recruitment team.

 

16 hours ago, Walka003 said:

I have no interest in entering into any form of discussion with you. You've proven time and time again to be at best delusional and at worst a troll who's sole purpose is to cause issues on here.

Someone contradicts your perma-criticism and so you immediately descend to childish abuse.

My purpose is to support the club in order to help it to improve and move up the League.

I agree that a significant part of our player recruitment in recent years has been inadequate.

So I think that the appointment of a new Chief Scout has the potential to improve upon that failing, and I look forward to learning the identity and calibre of the appointee.

Whereas you have dismissed the change as worthless before it has even happened.

That's not constructive criticism, it is destructive bigotry.

I think we have a good chance of promotion again next season, but you think we are on for a second relegation out of the EFL altogether.

We'll see as the season progresses who is right.

And hence we will be able to start to judge what value the new Chief Scout has brought to the club, based on evidence rather than prejudice.

Speaking from a position of relative ignorance, on people's background at the club. What exactly is Darnborough' background.
Although I do support the clubs owners, the appointments of Flitcroft and now this Darnborough to be in charge of new signings is a bit exasperating to say the least.

It’s hard for me to get particularly animated about Darnbrough either way as it felt like the ultimate responsibility was firmly with Darren “everything football” Moore. There was more than one signing he made during that summer window such as Daj Brown where Moore openly was quoted as saying he’d chased him for a while so it’s hard for me to know what can pin on Darnbrough and what you can’t.

To me the only question is whether JB is satisfied to keep him in situ. If he is then fair enough, if not then a change should be made. Not really helped matters he’s never even so much as spoken a word since being here, can’t be difficult at least to sit down with Mike Baggaley would have thought.

Edited May 20May 20 by Guppys left peg

18 hours ago, Valiant Haze said:

Chat GPT’s take on it

 

 

 

 

 

 In practical terms, this reads mostly like a restructuring announcement rather than a major overhaul.

The only concrete staffing changes actually confirmed are:

• Port Vale F.C. are creating a new “Chief Scout” role.
• A “Football Leadership Team” is being formalised.
• Two people are leaving:
  • Matt Oakley
  • Tom Fry

Everything else is mostly corporate/football-management language meaning:

• “we’ve reviewed how we operate”
• “we want departments communicating better”
• “we’re reorganising reporting lines”
• “we’re trying to improve recruitment and decision-making”

The “Football Leadership Team” section especially sounds like:

• existing senior staff being grouped into a more formal committee/decision-making structure,
• rather than several big new hires.

The wording:

“bringing together key areas of the football operation”

usually means:

• existing departments already existed,
• but now they’ll meet/work under a more unified structure.

Likewise:

“support from other key staff”

suggests the academy/admin people named are already employed and simply being included in the process.

The notable bit is probably the recruitment change:

• they appear to think scouting/recruitment needed improvement,
• hence appointing a Chief Scout and strengthening recruitment oversight under Lee Darnborough.

The “advisory and ambassadorial support” line is also football-club language for:

• bringing in experienced ex-players/executives in informal or part-time roles,
• often for credibility, mentoring, or fan relations,
• not necessarily operational control.

So stripped of PR language, the announcement is roughly:

“We reviewed the football side of the club. We’re reorganising internal leadership, improving scouting/recruitment structures, creating a more joined-up management group, possibly bringing in experienced advisors, and two existing staff members are leaving.”

That’s a much simpler summary of what they’re actually saying.

ChatGPT makes things up, dont forget

My god this place is so fookin depressing sometimes

Wonder if Ray Williams is coming back ??

1 hour ago, Osh said:

My god this place is so fookin depressing sometimes

I only come on for a good laugh OSH lad ...it's perks my day up lol 🤣 🤣 

1 hour ago, Osh said:

My god this place is so fookin depressing sometimes

What do you mean by "sometimes" Osh. 😂 

On a positive note though, the pitch is looking good, better than it was when we played Stockport. 😂😉 

Edited May 20May 20 by barny61

1 hour ago, Davo666 said:

Wonder if Ray Williams is coming back ??

Let’s hope not.

Thank goodness he is long gone 

Reading this thread it's clear to see the mask is slipping from those who hate the club , the negativity is palpable.

I'm not sure on the Foyle love in either. Fantastic player for us no doubt and part of the era where most of the players under Rudge will hold a place in our hearts as Vale fans.   

He was a pretty average manager(at best) when you look back though and his recruitment in the last summer before he left was pretty shocking.  I still have nightmares about Miller, Tudor, Rocastle and 'owd one foot himself Paul Edwards🫣. That said I can have sympathy with anyone who had to work under V2001s jurisdiction and as a result there were probably extenuating circumstances. 

His crowning glory was probably getting the best out of Constantine and Sodje who if we are honest didn't have that much impact anywhere else in their careers before or after playing for Vale.  From memory Foyle also generated a fair chunk of money through cup runs and player sales that a % was never properly invested back into the side(at League One level at the time) and once the better players from our 2004-08 squads were sold or drifted away and weren't replaced it proved his and ultimately V2001s downfall(although they saved face briefly with Micky Adams).  I'd be interested to know has he repeated any recruitment like that with players since(genuinely don't know as haven't really followed his career in details apart from him managing York at one point then he seems to have gone into more scouting and background roles)?

Whilst our current owners have made mistakes the club is most likely a more professionally run outfit now than when Foyle was last with the club and we know they won't shirk at spending money at least in League Two and we should have one of the best budgets for 4th tier level.

18 hours ago, The Kalamazoo Kid said:

Why? Genuine question - is he really that highly-rated in DoF/Recruitment type roles, or is it (yet another) case of Vale fans just plumping for an ex-name?

I keep reading the argument that "he knows the club" - what does that even mean?.....that he knows where the toilets and fire exits are, so it saves on him having an induction?!

Certainly not me jumping on the ex vale player thing,i have mentioned on here before that i have a friend in football and Foyle is very very highly regarded in football circles,he has a lot of experience as well in recruitment,now if you ask who has unearthed i honestly aren't sure.... the reason i mentioned DoF is because i dont know if he would come as a chief scout considering he has been head of recruitment at other clubs and for Brady.

It is said though that he prefers to scout players the old fashioned way by going to watch them and not by being data led.so its not the ex player thing with me its his vast experience and knowledge that is much needed at our club

7 hours ago, valeparklife said:

It's the classic Vale fan approach to football chat.

Transfer suggestions always answer one of these questions:

• Did they used to play for us?
• Are they a 'name'?
• Did they play well against us?

Aside from that, most don't watch other football so don't know anyone else.

Same for the DoF suggestions.

• "Foyle used to play for us so I know who he is"
• "He's a DoF/HoR"
• "I don't know anyone else to suggest"

Personally, I don't know any names, but for me, we NEED a DoF, and it should be either:

• Someone that's overseen a good job at a smaller club and got them punching above their weight
• Or someone that's been part of a successful team above us (Brighton/Brentford/Bournemouth) and wants to become the number one

As I said previous,me mentioning Foyle has nothing at all with him being ex Vale,it was purely down to what i have been told about him in footballing circles.

People feel free to think what they want BUT there is far more to Foyle than just being ex Vale

16 minutes ago, werstayinup said:

Certainly not me jumping on the ex vale player thing,i have mentioned on here before that i have a friend in football and Foyle is very very highly regarded in football circles

So highly regarded that he's the head of recruitment at the mighty Carlisle United.

11 minutes ago, werstayinup said:

As I said previous,me mentioning Foyle has nothing at all with him being ex Vale,it was purely down to what i have been told about him in footballing circles.

People feel free to think what they want BUT there is far more to Foyle than just being ex Vale

I'd take foyle back in a heart beat cares more about port vale than anyone currently involved that is enough for me. That alone would instantly make him better than anyone we currently have imo. Ever since Carol took over we seem to be a haven for freeloaders.

Edited May 20May 20 by dantheman