A concerned Port Vale fan has written an open letter to Port Vale co-owner Carol Shanahan asking the club to listen to the concerns of supporters and undergo a thorough recruitment process when appointing managers.
The club owners are under pressure to act following the club’s poor performance under Darren Moore, criticism of the club’s lack of communication and the player and managerial recruitment processes.
Dear Carol,
I’m writing this because I hope that, by setting things out clearly, you’ll understand why so many of us believe real change is needed in how Port Vale is being run on the football side.
First, thank you. You rescued this club when we were on our knees. The previous regime nearly finished us off, and your work in the community has been exceptional. The awards you and the club have received show how much good you’ve done, and we are genuinely grateful.
But while the off-field progress has been strong, the footballing decisions have repeatedly held us back.
The problems began the season after we were promoted under Darrell Clarke. That summer’s recruitment was poor and unbalanced, and many supporters recognised it straight away. Clarke was effectively working with his hands tied. He didn’t get the players or structure he needed, and the results reflected that.
Since then, the same pattern has repeated. We’ve appointed managers without proper due diligence or any real search of the wider market. Recruitment has been consistently weak, and even last summer – when we actually had a budget bigger than many around us – the significant investment only led to a limping promotion rather than a clear step forward. Season after season, the same structural issues have been allowed to continue, with no clear football leadership in place to break the cycle. Decisions are taken far too late to be effective.
After Clarke’s departure, Andy Crosby was given the job without a proper interview process, despite the poor performances under him as Interim. He then oversaw the worst opening-day result in our history and the longest winless run the club has ever endured.
When Crosby finally left, the club moved straight to Darren Moore – once again interviewing only one candidate. His recent record and the feedback from supporters of his previous clubs made the concerns obvious from day one. The football has been dull, the results have been worse, and we now find ourselves with yet another unwelcome record: six games without a goal for the first time in Port Vale’s history.
During this period, fans have repeatedly voiced concerns about how the football side is being run. Instead of open dialogue, we received an open letter that dismissed legitimate worries and treated us like naughty school children, followed by a post-match speech in the sponsors lounge secretly filmed assuring us we wouldn’t be relegated because you had spoken to the families of the coaching staff. That moment summed up the disconnect many supporters felt.
Promotion back to League One was welcome, but the football remained uninspiring and the recruitment this summer has again lacked clarity and purpose. Players have been signed then replaced within the same window, senior decisions have been inconsistent, and we continue to hear empty buzzwords instead of a clear plan.
Football fans can be demanding, but most of us aren’t asking for miracles. We want a club we can be proud of. One that listens, communicates honestly and shows that lessons have been learned. The fanbase has never connected with Darren Moore, and most worked that out at the end of the relegation season from league one.
So when Moore does eventually leave – hopefully before you even read this – I’m asking for something simple:
Please approach this appointment differently.
We’re not asking for huge spending or a big-name manager. What we want is a proper, thorough recruitment process. Speak to people inside the game. Do real due diligence. Look for a manager supporters can connect with and who can rebuild identity, belief and purpose.
This next appointment matters. Not just for staying in League One now, but for restoring pride and reconnecting the club with its supporters in the long term.
We don’t expect perfection. We just want to feel proud to be Port Vale supporters again.
Yours sincerely
A concerned supporter
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