Moore will have 'competitive' Vale budget - Hancock

Darren Moore was appointed Port Vale manager on a five-and-a-half-year contract in February 2024

Port Vale chief executive Matt Hancock says the club feels "ready" for life back in League One and boss Darren Moore will have the finances to build a "competitive" squad.

Vale secured a return to the third tier this term after only one season away following their relegation in 2023-24.

Despite failing to pip Doncaster Rovers for the title on the final day of the campaign, Vale finished second, three points clear of the play-off places.

The success marked Vale's second promotion to League One in the last four seasons but Hancock says the feeling around the club this time, compared to the aftermath of their play-off final win in 2022, is different.

"The last time the club got into League One there was a bit of an 'Oh my gosh' moment, 'What are we going to do?'," said Hancock, who was appointed CEO in January 2024.

"I wasn't here for the last promotion but I haven't felt that at all this time.

"It actually feels like we should be in League One, we're ready for League One, we've got a structure that's right, we've got a senior staff that's ready and a manager that needs to be in League One. I'm so optimistic."

'This summer feels more controlled'

Hancock was promoted from his previous role as community and social responsibility director at the start of last year as part of a restructure of the club's football operations.

He replaced Colin Garlick as chief executive in a newly-defined role that saw him work closely with director of football David Flitcroft, with one of his first major jobs appointing Moore on a five-and-a-half-year deal.

Hancock said the football departments had previously felt "quite disconnected" and that the added support of a football administration team had helped improve the connections between departments.

That has all led to the club feeling "completely different to last summer" when relegation from League One saw a massive overhaul of the squad with 14 players brought in during the summer transfer window.

"Last year was a complete and utter rebuild," Hancock told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We were speaking three or four times a day because there was so much going on. This summer it feels a lot more controlled.

"We're going into League One with a real plan - of what Darren wants to go after in terms of players."

That plan - and how Vale spend their money strengthening the squad for League One - will now be key to their hopes of staying in the division next season.

"I can guarantee we're not going to have a summer like last year - the number [of signings] will be a lot less. But the focus is on the quality," Hancock said.

"All we ever say is we want players to represent Port Vale in a way we'd all want.

"Their character is a huge bit - what's their make up as a person? Naturally, high performance has to be part of it."

Hancock confirmed owners Carol and Kevin Shanahan are talking to potential targets at the moment and feels the club is in a much better position to attract players than it was a year ago.

"We feel like we've got a story to tell - we've got some momentum, we've got structure and vision from Carol over where she and Kevin want to take the football club and that will be coming across when they talk to players", Hancock said.

"I know the calibre of players they're talking to and they're League One footballers.

"We're in those conversations now and I feel 12 months ago we maybe had to force our way into those - they'd take a lot more time, effort and energy in getting someone to entertain [joining] Port Vale.

"Of course Darren is the main reason players come but we now feel, as a club, we are a really good opportunity for people."

Vale preparing for 'very different' season

Following relegation back to League Two last May, the Shanahans admitted they reviewed their commitment to the club and considered walking away.

But instead they approached their promotion challenge with renewed energy - and a significant financial outlay - to get the club back up.

Hancock said the owners' generosity had been vital last season and is sure Moore will have what he needs to keep the club up.

"To get automatic promotion, we've out-performed but we'd expected to be at the top end [of the table].

"This year is going to look different - that's not being defeatist. I'm being a realist, as much as I'd love to think we're going to win every game."

Although Hancock said he "highly doubts" the club will have the clout to be in the frame for another promotion, he is not expecting another relegation fight.

"Will Darren be given a competitive budget? Yes," he said.

"That's been committed to by the Shanahans. Is it going to be a budget that will be for in and around the top six? I highly doubt it.

"Will it be enough to enable Darren to outperform, to bring really good footballers in and for us to be a League One club and keep progressing? 100%."