Port Vale: League Two strugglers yet to make decision on new manager

Chris Morgan (left) and David Kelly took charge of Vale's 1-1 draw at Yeovil on Saturday

Port Vale are yet to decide who will become the League Two club's new manager - nine days on from Michael Brown's sacking.

They currently have a very experienced backroom team at the helm in David Kelly and Chris Morgan.

And, although Vale remain winless in eight league matches, they are now off the bottom after a 1-1 draw at Yeovil.

Owner Norman Smurthwaite has dismissed speculation linking Macclesfield boss John Askey with the Vale vacancy.

Caretaker bosses Kelly - Billy Davies's long-time number two at Derby and Nottingham Forest - and former Sheffield United stalwart Morgan took charge for the first time at Yeovil.

Having overseen Vale's second successive 1-1 draw, they were expected to take training on Monday ahead of Tuesday's home game against Accrington Stanley.

Adams would consider only temporary role

One name mentioned as a possible contender is former Vale boss Micky Adams for what would be a third spell in charge.

That notion was scotched last week by owner Norman Smurthwaite, who did admit to having had consultations with the 55-year-old Yorkshireman.

Now Adams himself has confirmed to BBC Radio Stoke that the only role he would consider is a temporary one.

"If they're linking me with the manager's job, they can forget it," he said. "Two years ago I took time out from the game and decided that I didn't want to risk going through the emotional turmoil of another sacking.

"I decided with my wife to look at other things and have spent the last two years setting up a football consultancy business.

"I've been speaking to Norman about maybe helping out behind the scenes, looking at the whole football operation in general or maybe on the commercial side.

"If there was a period that the club was without a manager and they wanted someone to take charge for one or two games, I'd look at that. But football management in the long terms is not for me anymore."

Analysis

BBC Radio Stoke's Lee Blakeman

John Askey has been linked with a move to Vale in the past and became the bookmakers' favourite for the job over the weekend.

We understand that he has been interviewed for the manager's position and is well known to the Vale hierarchy, having previously worked with Vale chief executive Colin Garlick at Macclesfield.

However, comments by chairman Norman Smurthwaite made on message boards over the weekend suggest that he is not in line. He told fans to 'take a chill pill and stop responding to nonsense'.