Adams Joins Vale Board

While we wait a decision from Mark Sims as to whether he will take up his position in the Vale Park Boardroom, manager Micky Adams is now able to add to his squad after winning his vote to become a director. Whatever the real reasons behind the move are, it is certainly not one that will go down well with those still hopeful of a change of ownership. Leaving that to one side for a moment, Adams now has the opportunity to strengthen the squad ahead of Vale`s upcoming pre season tour of America. The Vale boss told the Official Site: ‘It’s less than two weeks until the players report for pre-season training and I am very pleased that we are finally able to bring in new faces.

‘It has not been an ideal situation for anyone and I am looking forward to getting out onto the training pitch before the fixtures start in August.’

Despite the seemingly urgent rush to get Adams on to the Board owing to the club`s inability to make signings, the Vale boss has since stated that no major changes are needed and he doesn`t have a ‘long list of targets`. Make of that what you will. Adams also still has to decide on the futures of Ritchie Sutton and Gary Roberts, while coaches Mark Grew and Geoff Horsfield are also out of contract.

Meanwhile, Anthony Griffith became Vale`s latest fully fledged International player when he made his debut captaining Montserrat to a 5-2 defeat against Belize. The Yorkshireman was eligible to represent the tiny Caribbean island as a result of his father`s nationality. The game was the first leg of a preliminary World Cup qualifying game. Although a lowly 202nd in the FIFA rankings, it was asking a lot for Montserrat to progress, having failed to win a single game in three previous World Cup qualifying campaigns. The return leg was dramatically cancelled when FIFA suspended Belize because of ‘government interference`. Griff must have felt right at home…