Rob Page: Port Vale award new two-year contract to manager

6 May 2015

Port Vale manager Rob Page — Image caption,
Rob Page first came to Port Vale in 2011 as part of then manager Micky Adams' coaching staff

Port Vale boss Rob Page has agreed a new two-year deal after securing League One football for a third straight year.

The former Wales international centre-half, who took over when Micky Adams departed on September 18, has signed a contract through until 2017.

Vale were one off the bottom when Page, 40, took charge, but he transformed his low-budget side into play-off hopefuls.

A run of six straight defeats ruined that plan, turning Vale into relegation candidates, but they stayed up.

91�ȱ� Radio Stoke's Phil Sproson on his old team
"Rob Page has had a difficult end to the season. Vale slid right down to the wrong end of the table. But he kept his nerve and picked the right team. And, viewed over the whole season, he did quite well. He's going to be like every other manager now, ringing round try to see who he can bring in, but even more important will be trying to get some of the players who are out of contract to re-sign - the likes of Michael O'Connor, Mark Marshall and, of course, Tom Pope. That is going to be vital if the club are to build on this season and challenge for the play-offs."

91�ȱ� Radio Stoke's Phil Sproson on his old team

"Rob Page has had a difficult end to the season. Vale slid right down to the wrong end of the table. But he kept his nerve and picked the right team. And, viewed over the whole season, he did quite well. He's going to be like every other manager now, ringing round try to see who he can bring in, but even more important will be trying to get some of the players who are out of contract to re-sign - the likes of Michael O'Connor, Mark Marshall and, of course, Tom Pope. That is going to be vital if the club are to build on this season and challenge for the play-offs."

A win at Yeovil on the penultimate weekend of the season secured their safety with Vale ultimately finishing 18th, four points clear of trouble, just ahead of local rivals Crewe.

Page's first task is now to decide how to rebuild his squad for next season, with 16 players out of contract in June.

They include boyhood fan and top scorer Tom Pope, who has already been told that he will have to take a substantial pay cut if he is to remain at Vale Park.

Welshman Page, who was born in the Rhondda Valley, made 481 league appearances in his playing career, chiefly with Watford, Sheffield United, Coventry City and Chesterfield.

91�ȱ�

Rob Page: Port Vale award new two-year contract to manager

More on this story

Around the 91�ȱ�

Related internet links