Out of contract players this summer

[saddler78]

Nothing official as yet but someone on OVF who is almost always spot on with these things has said all of our out of contract players have been let go so looks like some big changes are coming with our squad.

Would imagine there will be an official announcement this evening or tomorrow but only one that really would sadden me is Scott Brown. Been a great keeper for us though he has declined somewhat in the last year.

wouldnt be surprised if he is interested in Liam Roberts James Clarke and Josh Gordon from us all out of contract.

 

[kieran_vale]

Vale fans: The problem with letting all the players go is finding replacements .

Scott Brown, decent keeper, you know what you are getting but replace him with a keeper let go somewhere else, an academy kid or a lower league punt and suddenly you don't feel as secure.

Not having a go at you as such but it is a quandary for all us teams without lots of dosh to splash around.

Casey

All very good points you make Casey. Only thing I’d make as a counterpoint on it is a good portion of this squad have been together a number of years. In that time they’ve flirted with relegation out of this league multiple times and the one aberration is last season when we were in contention for a playoff spot though even then we were throwing points away constantly.

Change needed to happen. Too many players gotten too old and past their best so rather than kick the can down the road so to speak best to rebuild now. Someone like Joyce for example has been a good pro but he has noticeably declined and some of his passes can barely reach their intended targets anymore.

 

[valefan16]

All very good points you make Casey. Only thing I’d make as a counterpoint on it is a good portion of this squad have been together a number of years. In that time they’ve flirted with relegation out of this league multiple times and the one aberration is last season when we were in contention for a playoff spot though even then we were throwing points away constantly.

Change needed to happen. Too many players gotten too old and past their best so rather than kick the can down the road so to speak best to rebuild now. Someone like Joyce for example has been a good pro but he has noticeably declined and some of his passes can barely reach their intended targets anymore.

If true are you happy to see a full list released?

Leaves us with:

Nathan Smith
Danny Whitehead
Theo Robinson
Devante Rodney
Tom Conlon
Alex Hurst
David Worrall
David Amoo
James Gibbons
Jake Taylor
Scott Burgess

Possibly Leon Legge if he triggered the extension and didnt have it removed.

 

[kieran_vale]

If true are you happy to see a full list released?

Leaves us with:

Nathan Smith
Danny Whitehead
Theo Robinson
Devante Rodney
Tom Conlon
Alex Hurst
David Worrall
David Amoo
James Gibbons
Jake Taylor
Scott Burgess

Possibly Leon Legge if he triggered the extension and didnt have it removed.

Honestly yes I am. There will be different groups of them in terms of released players. The ones whose best days are behind them like say Joyce and Pope. The other group is those they’ll have evaluated like for example a Crookes (and I’ve always liked him more than most Vale fans for the record) but what exactly is his ceiling in terms of what he can get to? If they’ve looked at it and said he can’t develop any further then it’s time to move on.

A couple of the players let go I’d put that money into an extension for Conlon and Smith and build everything round them as the starting point.

There will be some like Whitehead who are very lucky they have another years deal as well.

 

[valefan16]

Honestly yes I am. There will be different groups of them in terms of released players. The ones whose best days are behind them like say Joyce and Pope. The other group is those they’ll have evaluated like for example a Crookes (and I’ve always liked him more than most Vale fans for the record) but what exactly is his ceiling in terms of what he can get to? If they’ve looked at it and said he can’t develop any further then it’s time to move on.

A couple of the players let go I’d put that money into an extension for Conlon and Smith and build everything round them as the starting point.

There will be some like Whitehead who are very lucky they have another years deal as well.

If he has been as ruthless as rumoured I imagine a couple like Amoo and Whitehead will have been told they are free to find new clubs.

 

[valefan16]

Now confirmed, every single player released who was out of contract and talks with in contract players tomorrow so looks like some of these will be gone!

Legge did trigger his contract.

 

[kieran_vale]

Much needed, this is going to free up a lot of money for DC to now build a squad in his image. Regards the contracted players in tomorrow he did say they were all coming in Tuesday for fitness tests and targets etc but I do believe the likes of Amoo for example just certainly don't fit in especially if we stay to the 3-5-2 so may be told they are free to leave.

Exciting times.

 

[valefan16]

Much needed, this is going to free up a lot of money for DC to now build a squad in his image. Regards the contracted players in tomorrow he did say they were all coming in Tuesday for fitness tests and targets etc but I do believe the likes of Amoo for example just certainly don't fit in especially if we stay to the 3-5-2 so may be told they are free to leave.

Exciting times.

Of course we can now pay tribute now hes leaving to the legendary Tom Pope. Should get a testimonial in my view.

 

[Soz]

wow! i thought it would be brutal but this is a bit of a shock still.

i think im ok with it. i'd resigned myself to pope going and honestly not as gutted about as i thought i'd be.

the new recruitment system will really have to hit the ground running.

 

[valefan16]

wow! i thought it would be brutal but this is a bit of a shock still.

i think im ok with it. i'd resigned myself to pope going and honestly not as gutted about as i thought i'd be.

the new recruitment system will really have to hit the ground running.

He did allude Saturday to the overall season and seems the downing of tools mid season didnt sit well with him even though it was before his tenure.

See 3 or 4 going in the next few days under contract so going to be loads of money to play with left over.

Smith, Gibbons, Rodney, Conlon, Hurst, Legge, Taylor and build around that now. Add quality to that.

Only downer is we made need time to gel and next season may be one of consolidation with so many new faces.

 

[stevowanderer]

He did allude Saturday to the overall season and seems the downing of tools mid season didnt sit well with him even though it was before his tenure.

See 3 or 4 going in the next few days under contract so going to be loads of money to play with left over.

Smith, Gibbons, Rodney, Conlon, Hurst, Legge, Taylor and build around that now. Add quality to that.

Only downer is we made need time to gel and next season may be one of consolidation with so many new faces.

Do you think you can keep hold of Conlon? There will definitely be some clubs sniffing around him.

 

[stevowanderer]

He's just invested in setting up a kids academy in Stoke on Trent and said at an awards night recently he's looking forward to leading the Vale team next season. He isn't going anywhere.

Fair enough. Very good player.

 

[kieran_vale]

Do you think you can keep hold of Conlon? There will definitely be some clubs sniffing around him.

Of course when you are a fourth division club money talks and if we receive the right offer then am sure he would go with everyone's best wishes. The right offer nowadays will be a lot more costly for the buying club than under previous owners though where a couple hundred grand to get through the next month or Smurthwaites case to buy a new car were the sum total of what we'd get.

 

[Soz]

the home town link is not to be sniffed at either. obviously he'd be stupid if some league one club offered to double his wages, but we'll probably offer him a new deal this summer which would be one of the highest earners at the club, in hsi home town, club captain, form of his life.

i think he stays, signs a new deal and we'll tell him that he can go if we get a reasonable offer from a team that would be a clear step up for him.

 

[Si Robin]

Fancy letting Scotty Brown go.

I'm not even over egging the pudding by saying I'd take him back at Whaddon Road for next season.

 

[valefan16]

Fancy letting Scotty Brown go.

I'm not even over egging the pudding by saying I'd take him back at Whaddon Road for next season.

It was the biggest surprise, especially with him wining the community award at the weekend.

I am sad to see him go... that said he hasn't been as good this season in reality, some big errors, Walsall at home he made two massive ones, obviously the ones at your place were equally terrible, Mansfield's third on Saturday.

He had been extremely reliable the previous couple of seasons but struggled this in comparison with those high standards.

Top bloke though and wish him all the best, I expect him to rock up at another League Two club.

 

[SVH]

Yep we will be in the market for a new goalkeeper and I would take him or Mckeown.

 

[Soz]

yeah it would have been unfathomable to say that we would be releasing scott brown this time last year. as it is, he's been ok this season, clear dips in form for the first time since he has been at vale and so it's a bit sad to see him go but it's not a total shock either.

he's better than a fair few keepers in this league so anyone needing an old hand in goal for a year or two could do much worse

 

[valefan16]

The cull goes even further! Danny Pugh has also left the club despite being said to be part of the long term future before DC came in and one who would be looking to take the role once the next manager left... interesting.

 

[kieran_vale]

The cull goes even further! Danny Pugh has also left the club despite being said to be part of the long term future before DC came in and one who would be looking to take the role once the next manager left... interesting.

It’s fair enough, as manager it’s right DC has in who he wants to work with and they’ve given it a go for a few months and going in a separate direction. My problem with Pugh was always he came across too much as a mate of the players than someone they respected. Probably good for him he develops elsewhere.

 

[Soz]

yeah agree kieran, pugh is going to have a decent coaching career, if not managerial one. its always tough when you transition from a player to a coach at the same club without a break.

 

[saddler78]

The cull goes even further! Danny Pugh has also left the club despite being said to be part of the long term future before DC came in and one who would be looking to take the role once the next manager left... interesting.

Brian Dutton incoming at a guess we sacked him today.

 

[kieran_vale]

Brian Dutton incoming at a guess we sacked him today.

Think that depends on whether DC caught wind about your owner saying he was staging mock interviews with him for his job while he was still there. Can imagine that might be an awkward conversation between them.

 

[Conker]

I imagine a few of on our released list will end up at Vale, if I’m taking a guess.

 

[saddler78]

Think that depends on whether DC caught wind about your owner saying he was staging mock interviews with him for his job while he was still there. Can imagine that might be an awkward conversation between them.

This season has been a shambles for us just hope its put right in the summer.

 

[valefan16]

Think that depends on whether DC caught wind about your owner saying he was staging mock interviews with him for his job while he was still there. Can imagine that might be an awkward conversation between them.

Possible but thought he was trying to keep Crosby so maybe freeing up funds to offer him a better deal?

 

[Andy Proctor]

I think you can rule us out of making the top 7 next season as the squad is going be completely changed.it was needed really to get rid of the dead wood and the ageing players but it would be a big surprise to me if you get rid of 15 and bring in about 15 new players and do well. They will need time to gel and settle in and get to know how each other play. I'd say midtable is the best we will do next season.

 

[Indian Dan]

We’ve got a whole heap of shit that need culling. Payne, Twine and Odimayo will be off. Got half a dozen ‘broken’ players who are continually injured. One CB who only plays cos daddy pays his wages. A right rag bag of spanners.

 

[valefan16]

I think you can rule us out yof making the top 7 next season as the squad is going be completely changed.it was needed really to get rid of the dead wood and the ageing players but it would be a big surprise to me if you get rid of 15 and bring in about 15 new players and do well. They will need time to gel and settle in and get to know how each other play. I'd say midtable is the best we will do next season.

Bolton managed it but I am a little nervous about it all, culling the squad like he has and set to pay off some of the contracted players means a full rebuild and thus needs recruitment to be spot on.

Gutted to see Scott Brown go of course, top bloke, decent keeper even if he’s made errors this season...

Montano I guess was injuries and looks like he’s off to the SPL.

Pope I know is probably right but it hurts, he’s obviously legend and deserved to end better than being subbed in a 3-0 defeat against Mansfield with no fans no fan fair nothing... sounds like he didn’t know it was coming.

Joyce was a little surprising as although he’s again been not as good we were awful when he was out the side.

I’m waiting for him to pay off Worrall tomorrow at this rate!

 

[Bottega Don]

Cant wait for a second summer of Vale