Vale not in League One to 'make up numbers' - Moore

Darren Moore managed West Bromwich Albion, Doncaster Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield before taking charge at Port Vale in February 2024

Port Vale manager Darren Moore insists they are not back in League One "to make up the numbers" and that last season's promotion is a "base layer" the club must build on.

Moore guided Vale to second place in League Two last term, delivering an immediate return to the third tier following relegation at the end of 2023-24.

Speaking from the club's pre-season training camp in Wales, Moore told BBC Radio Stoke: "The slate's been wiped clean from last season and we build again.

"We need to push more, we need to ask more questions of everybody in League One and the group's prepared for that. Mentally, we know we've got to give more and physically. It's about being aligned.

"We understand where we are and where we need to get to and that that will need a lot of hard work."

Vale's promotion bid last season was sustained and consistent, leading League Two at the start of December and again with only four games to go in early April.

Despite ultimately missing out on the title to Doncaster Rovers, Vale went up with three points to spare over the teams on the play-off places.

Moore, 51, says their efforts last term need to be a starting point for taking on League One this time round.

"Last season was like a base layer," he said.

"I spoke to the group and said the work that everyone put in last season was fantastic but the same level of effort for this season won't do. We need more.

"There's a real sense of 'are we the finished article?' - no we're nowhere near it.

"We're really pleased to be back competing in League One but we're certainly not in League One just to make up the numbers.

"It's not going to be easy, it's going to be hard work."

'It's a league that has everything'

Moore has so far overseen seven new signings this summer and says they have "brought more competition" to the squad and are understanding "how we work and think and why we've brought them in".

The Vale boss said he is "constantly looking at the squad and the balance of it" in terms of assessing the areas that might need further strengthening.

"You look at the new players and ones already here and the synergy that they have and I've seen things already," he added.

"I've seen areas that we are really good and areas where we need to be better.

"But I'm warmed by what I've seen and we're just trying to squeeze every moment and take every opportunity."

Moore, who has played and managed in all four divisions of the English game, will be trying to stabilize Vale back in League One, first and foremost, and avoid a fight against relegation.

But he is confident the club are in a good place to take on that challenge back in the third tier.

"It's a league that's got everything," Moore said.

"It's got the rough and tumble, and we know that everyone who steps out on the field has to be at their very best to compete.

"That's the wonderful thing about League One - we know we can't afford to have any off days and that's wonderful mentally, to know we have to be at our best to get the right result."

Vale begin their League One campaign at Rotherham on Saturday, 2 August.

"Every single game will ask a serious question and if we're to come up with the answers, we've got to be absolutely spot on with our work. That's why I love League One so much - it will push us all to the limit," Moore added.

"It's where we want to be, testing ourselves week in, week out. There's lots to do so you don't get caught standing still as a football club and that's what we're doing."