Football Season Guide

Port Vale have begun to pick up the pieces after a dreadful campaign that saw them relegated from League One. A 7-0 opening day thrashing at Barnsley was a sign of things to come but they really only started to unravel after Christmas. Andy Crosby was probably sacked too late and successor Darren Moore was unable to turn around results. Fans were left increasing bemused by the recruitment under Director of Football David Flitcroft and directed their anger at both him and owner Carol Shanahan. Flitcroft left the club shortly before relegation was confirmed. It was the manner of the relegation that really stuck in the craw of their disillusioned supporters, so much so that the relationship between the fans, players and Shanahan has now fractured. They were bemused by the appointment of Crosby in the first place, Flitcroft’s refusal to sign a goalscorer and Shanahan’s perceived incompetence in allowing all of it to happen. Moore has largely been accepted as a victim of these circumstances, rather than a cause, and he has begun the process of shipping out the dead wood and building a team capable of bouncing back at the first attempt. Winger Ronan Curtis is a standout capture having recovered from a long-term knee injury. He can play at a higher level. The same can be said for midfielders George Byers and Ryan Croasdale, the former having played for Moore at Sheffield Wednesday. Centre-back Connor Hall has returned from a bizarre switch to Colchester United whilst attacking options have been strengthened with the additions of Lorent Tolaj and Ruari Paton, who found the back of the net regularly with Aldershot Town and Queen’s Park last season. Striker Jayden Stockley is something of a journeyman these days, but ought to thrive at this level.