Favourites to become new Port Vale manager as club decides to sack Andy Crosby

The favourites to become new Port Vale manager has been revealed as the club decides to sack Andy Crosby after one win in eight games.

Andy Crosby won 13 of his 40 games in charge of Port Vale, but now leaves along with assistant manager John Schofield with Vale sitting 20th in the League One table, two points above the drop zone, though do have games in hand.

Crosby came in at the club as Darrell Clarke’s assistant in March 2021, twice taking over as interim boss and then got job on a more permanent basis after Clarke was dismissed in April 2023..

📰 Club Statement | Andy Crosby

Read More 👉 https://t.co/HH2CEJdBFLhttps://t.co/lSpCpzGHvF

— Port Vale FC (@OfficialPVFC) February 5, 2024

👋 OFFICIAL

Port Vale have relieved Andy Crosby of his duties as first-team manager.#PVFC pic.twitter.com/20OxqgKDCO

— The Sack Race (@thesackrace) February 5, 2024

The club said in a statement via their website: “Port Vale Football Club has today relieved Andy Crosby of his duties as first-team manager. John Schofield will also leave his position as assistant manager.

“Andy joined the Valiants as assistant manager in March 2021 and became permanent manager in June 2023.

“Andy’s three years at Vale Park included his part in our promotion to League One and two separate instances as interim manager.

“We’d like to thank both Andy and John for the time they have spent at Vale Park and would like to wish them all of the best with their future careers.

“The search for our new manager has already begun.”

FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW PORT VALE MANAGER

BetVictor – 6th February 2024
Gareth Ainsworth – 4/1
David Dunn – 6/1
Darren Moore – 8/1
Mark Bonner – 8/1
Michael Duff – 8/1
John Eustace – 10/1
Pete Wild – 12/1
Alex Neil – 12/1
Tom Pope – 14/1
Gary Rowett – 14/1
Paul Heckingbottom – 14/1
Neil Lennon – 16/1

BetVictor – 7th February 2024
Mark Kennedy – 6/4
Gareth Ainsworth – 6/1
David Dunn – 6/1
Mark Bonner – 8/1
Gary Bowyer – 8/1
Darren Moore – 8/1
Michael Duff – 8/1
Neil Lennon – 16/1

BBC Radio Stoke’s Vale reporter Phil Bowers said on the sacking: “The biggest surprise is the timing of this announcement coming so soon after the transfer window, which only closed on Thursday night.

“Anybody coming in will have to work with the squad at hand, which is a squad that we already know is light on centre-forwards and is light in other key areas.

“And it has also been upset by injuries. Two key players in Uche Ikpeazu and Ben Garrity, the top scorer.

“But it’s the run of just three wins in 20 games that has done for Andy Crosby. It’s very similar to the three wins in 19 games before Darrell Clarke went.”

Andy Crosby said after defeat to Fleetwood, as per OneValeFan: “I need to apologise to the eleven hundred people who came to watch us (and) to the Port Vale fans who were listening at home.

“Our performance lacked anything you should need to win a game of football. There was no pride in our performance, individually and collectively, we got outfought, we got outbattled and we got outplayed. When all those things happen you don’t give yourself a chance to win.

“What I’ve said to the players in private will remain that way but when you don’t do the basic things required you end up on the end of a scoreline like that.

“You have to win duels, you have to win headers, you have to win tackles, you have to outrun your opponent when you’re making a recovery run. You have to show desire to land on second balls and anticipate where the game is going to go. You have to use your body, you have to do a hell of a lot of things before you come to the technical side of the game. And when you don’t… that’s what happens.

“It’s what every professional footballer has to do as a very basic requirement if they want to play in a successful team. They have to do the basics of the game and we didn’t do any of them today.”

This is how fans reacted with the favourites to become new Port Vale manager revealed as the club decides to sack Andy Crosby…

@nodgers: Mixed feelings – Andy couldn’t do much without the resources. Yes he made some strange decisions but I don’t feel like he was backed wholly. Thankless task for whoever comes in, they have to keep us up with the resources we have and the same problems Andy had? Groundhog Day?

@tom_kenny84: Days after the transfer window. Should have happened in Oct/Nov.

@ANDYPVFC: Now what’s Carol going to do about that shambles of a Transfer window and lack of a Striker and Left back. The probs stems far deeper than Crosby who was left without a pot to pee in in Jan

@Bede1978: Flitcroft also has to go. His failure again this January makes his position untenable. Get him gone, for the love of God.

@BenjaminGrocott: 4 days after the end of the window. 2 weeks after publicly announcing he’s done enough keep his job. Well done all involved what a waste of bloody time. Just make the same mistake again with dunny too won’t we. Never learn hey

@SirSebastian20: Did a great job for us as an Assistant Manager, but he just didn’t look up to it as a Manager. All the best Andy 👍.

@rockape793929: One way best for the club, another way I’m gutted for a thoroughly decent man.

@Evvo1991: Do NOT mess this up and appoint Dunn, show some intent and with all that cash saved on players let’s get a proper manager in

@Ejroe: Go and get Pete Wild from Barrow.

@AaronDodds1: I expect a permanent replacement in place no later than after Saturday’s game. David Dunn and the rest of the coaching staff can pack their bags. #pvfc

@EmilyCherryCEO: AC a genuine & decent man, great coach. Been dealt an awful hand by DF – who is supposed to be responsible for football results – so is the next statement his resignation? Thank you Andy as a Vale fan I am sorry for how you have been treated.

@HSV_Valiant: A good coach that should not have been given the managers job in the first place. I see Flitcroft and his mate Dunn have not been sacked yet. Absolutely no point in getting rid of Crosby if those two stay. Flitcroft is at fault for this and Dunn has failed everywhere as a manager

@PaulChe42749743: Thank you Andy for everything you did during the promotion season and for putting up with DF. DF do the honourable and right thing for the club and resign, you claim to respect the people, if so show some class and move on.

@MoorValiant: Now Flitcroft as well or this is a waste of time.

@jiminyhall: Incredible that Flitcroft seems to bear no responsibility for the current state of the team. We’ve got players going backwards faster than the club.

@PaulHitchen2010: Should never have gotten the job in the first place, tried his best but let down in the transfer window. Let’s hope DF doesn’t insist the new manager has to play his way and has the freedom to change the side.

@PVFClh2142: Honestly. A great guy and i wish it worked out but i guess it wasnt meant to be. Only wish him the best. Cheers crozza 👍

@pvfc_zack: Thanks for everything Andy shame you was let down massively in the January transfer window just like Clarke was, Carol and co need to look at themselves here

@lee_wilshaw: Andy thrown under the bus by the club.. carol said everything football related was Flitcroft , well we’ve had one of the worst transfer windows ever , the players on the pitch would get played off the park by our promotion team .. under flitcroft we’ve gone backwards!

@howellingwalnut: Should have been searching for a new manager since November! Put Flitcroft in charge seeing he’s signed these players and insists on a certain playing style. See if he can keep us up! How can any other manager work under these restrictions? Crosby was clearly just his yes man.

@mitchblaise: FLITCROFT NEXT

@ChrisEdge81: Mixed feelings. All in all he had a great Impact at the club. But can’t understand the timing of this! Straight after the close of the transfer window… excited to see what Dunny puts out tomorrow now

@davethevalefan: Nice bloke wish him well, but as a vale manager it’s not good enough, dreadful football every week. Now flitcroft has to go in summer at latest. Both failed. Hopefully all coaches go. Dunn ,Nash the lot. All failures

@ThePremDebate: wish him nothing but the best. basically got us promoted when clarke was out long term, but not been good enough as actual manager. good luck andy

@JakeSalih: 100% right decision. Thanks for all the efforts AC and the promotion season, but it clearly wasn’t working and being absolutely shafted in January doesn’t help. All the best!