Port Vale have announced that manager Neal Aspin has left the club after resigning his position.
Vale have struggled in League Two this season and have won just once in their last ten games. They picked up a point last night at Newport in a 0-0 draw but Aspin announced earlier today that he felt it was in the best interests of the club if he stepped down.
BREAKING: Neil Aspin steps down as Port Vale manager. #SSN pic.twitter.com/KLwHRJQR9X
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 30, 2019
In a statement on the club website Aspin said:
“To put an end to the constant speculation regarding my future I have decided that in the best interests of Port Vale FC that I must resign with immediate effect.
“Anyone who knows me and who knows my association with the Club as a player and now Manager will know it is a very difficult decision and one I haven’t taken lightly.
“I inherited a very difficult job with the Club staring relegation in the face. I am very proud of the job we did in keeping the Club in League Two and we leave the Club in a better place on and off the pitch. I fully accept results from December have been poor and expected to be higher up the table and know the players are capable of doing that. I have also had to contend with an ongoing personal legal dispute since I have been at the Club which has placed me under additional pressure.
“I would like to thank the Chairman for giving me the opportunity to manage the Club and his full support during my time at Port Vale. I would also like to thank my Assistant Manager, Lee Nogan, for his support along with my other staff who will remain at the Club to provide stability.
“I would like to finish by thanking the Port Vale supporters for giving me such a warm welcome and thank them for their support in what has been a difficult period. The one thing I haven’t had since I’ve been at the Club is a bit of luck which is what every Manager needs. Hopefully a change of Manager will bring this.”
The club, of course, thanked him for his efforts and will now begin the search for a new boss. Chairman Norman Smurthwaite, who will face fan protests at the next home game, issued his own statement:
“It is with a heavy heart that I have accepted the resignation of Neil Aspin as Manager of Port Vale Football Club. When we appointed Neil in October 2017 it was with a 5 year plan in mind and the intention to bring long term stability to the Club and return to League One. I have supported Neil throughout and we increased the budget this season to try and help achieve our ambition.
“Unfortunately, the season hasn’t progressed as we had all hoped and we again find ourselves in the wrong half of the table. Neil being the gentleman that he is had offered his resignation to me previously but I felt that with the squad that we had and the opportunity to strengthen that the season could be turned around. We do operate in a results driven business and our recent results have not been what we had all hoped and I have reluctantly now agreed to accept Neil’s resignation.
“This is a very difficult time for the club and I would ask that all supporters rally round the players as we look to climb the table and to the long and short term future of the Club. I would like to thank Neil for his service and commitment to the Club and wish him all the very best for the future.”
D3D4 Football’s view
It is hard to see someone who is so connected with the past success of the club leave under these circumstances but it is perhaps in the best interests of the club.
Results have been poor and tactics have been negative, often too defensive, giving fans very little to get excited about.
There is little time left in the transfer window to bring in new players but it is unlikely that Aspin’s departure will affect who the club bring in before the end of the deadline.
This club needs a manger who can play an exciting brand of football but the chairman must do all he can to bring in the kind of players who are able to meet the requirements of the new boss – something he has failed to do all too often.
Fans react
I was very excited when he came to the club, he's one of our greatest ever defenders. The very negative tactics was a big problem and Aspin always set up not to lose, never to win. The football was very route one and awful to watch #pvfc
— Bob Hughes (@BobGH) January 30, 2019
Hit and miss with recruitment, Scott Brown has been outstanding and Luke Hannant was a good buy from non league. I'd like to see Paul Hurst, Darrell Clarke or Gary Bowyer but unfortunately don't think any will come to the club.
— Bob Hughes (@BobGH) January 30, 2019
Correct decision but should really have walked before the transfer window opened, poor timing but we move on #pvfc
— Dave Clarke (@DaveClarke14) January 30, 2019
Definitely, and amongst supporters, myself included, there’s a feeling that he hasn’t been as well backed as he might have been in the window. Problems start with the chairman, protests against the chairman are planned at the weekend, nothing to do with Aspin leaving though
— Dave Clarke (@DaveClarke14) January 30, 2019
Will be impossible for any manager to succeed under the current owner. We're being taken on a farcical ride to non-league.
— Tony Heath (@valefanintean) January 30, 2019
The chairman had waited until the window is closed and will avoid spending a penny – he thinks we are too stupid to know his game – he has also split the ground from the club in a separate business he owns and saddled the club with debt – he is a horrid little man
— Rich (@_hospital_pass) January 30, 2019
You could get Jurgen Klopp in, it won’t make a scrap of difference with the piss poor investment and constant meddling in team transfers and affairs by our idiotic chairman. 4 managers in 2 and a half years. The consistent being the chairman in the decline
— Nodge (@nodgers) January 30, 2019
The recurring theme from almost all the fans is the disatisfaction with Norman Smurthwaite who has overseen one of the worst periods of decline in the club’s history.