Owner of Port Vale Carol Shanahan has stated that interviews are being held for the open managerial position.
After losing 3-0 to Fleetwood Town the previous weekend, the Valiants fired manager Andy Crosby on Monday. Since then, they have been without a manager. During the 1-0 loss to Leyton Orient during the midweek, Will Ryder assumed interim leadership.
Following a death in the family, the 50-year-old filled in as interim manager for Darrell Clarke in 2022 and oversaw the club’s promotion, helping Vale defeat Mansfield Town 3-0 at Wembley. Since May 2023, he has been in permanent control of Vale Park.
Before being substituted, Crosby had only managed one point in his last four games and had lost three of them. His final victory came against Blackpool at the end of December, and he departs with the team sitting one point behind Reading in 21st place, the final relegation spot.
Shanahan provided an update in an open letter that was published on the team’s official website: “We are currently interviewing prospective new managers to see if this is the kind of club that they would like to join. To give himself the best chance of succeeding, the new manager will require the team, the board, and the supporters’ support when he takes over.
The front-runners for the position are David Dunn, the first team coach at the moment, Gareth Ainsworth, a former manager of Queens Park Rangers, and former Lincoln City manager Mark Kennedy.
Ollie Arblaster and Alfie Devine were both recalled from their loan stints by Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur, respectively, during the January transfer window, dealing a blow to Vale. But the short-term additions of Dan Gore from Manchester United and Rhys Williams from Liverpool were eye-opening.
Saturday’s matchup between Port Vale and Stevenage, who were defeated earlier this week by fellow relegation contenders Reading, will take place at home.
Author’s Perspective
Kennedy could be a great fit for Port Vale because he didn’t perform poorly at Lincoln, and Ainsworth and the Irishman both have their own advantages.
Ainsworth would be a better choice for Vale if they’re looking for stability because he was devoted to Wycombe Wanderers prior to joining QPR.
Given that Dunn has been working for Port Vale for nearly two years as a first team coach, is it possible that they will promote him from within, as they did with Crosby?
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