Football Season Guide

Port Vale will be hoping they have turned on a corner after retaining their Football League status last season. The Valiants have been on a downward spiral in the last couple of seasons and the unenviable task of reversing that slide was handed to former defender Neil Aspin last October. He inherited a large and unbalanced squad and eventually guided them to safety despite winning just two of their 21 league matches following the turn of the year. Whilst supporters are still prepared to give Aspin the benefit of the doubt, the same can’t be said for owner Norman Smurthwaite, who has unsuccessfully tried to sell the club over the last 12 months and it means there is still a negative atmosphere at Vale Park. Aspin will be hoping a summer of transfer activity will help bring some positivity as he looks to build his own squad. 20 players have left the club during the close season and none of them will be particularly missed. He will look to build his team around the spine of defender Nathan Smith, whose was an ever-present last season, midfielder David Worrall and striker Tom Pope, who finished as leading goalscorer. Goalkeeper Scott Brown will be the first choice between the sticks having signed from promoted Wycombe Wanderers whilst defender Leon Legge and midfielder Luke Joyce bring plenty of experience with them after joining from Cambridge United and Carlisle United respectively. Aspin has also acted in an attempt to bring more goals with the acquisition of striker Ricky Miller from Peterborough United. A trio of strikers have also arrived on season-long loans in Idris Kanu, Louis Dodds and Scott Quigley. Expectations are unlikely to be unrealistic among supporters this season and they will just be hoping to see some improvement and entertainment at Vale Park.