Liam Dickinson set to be Port Vale's seventh summer signing
MICKY Adams is in pole position to make Liam Dickinson his seventh signing of the summer.
The striker arrived at Vale Park yesterday and will train with the squad to regain full fitness. Only then will any deal be completed.
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NEW BOYS IN TOWN: Richard Duffy, left, Chris Neal, centre, and Dave Artell fly the flag for Vale.
Vale brought in three more players yesterday to make it six new arrivals in a week.
Goalkeeper Chris Neal and defenders Dave Artell and Richard Duffy agreed deals to join Ashley Vincent, Jennison Myrie-Williams and Darren Murphy who arrived on Monday.
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But the capture of Dickinson would perhaps be the biggest coup for Adams.
The 27-year-old has not played since breaking his ankle last year, but the manager sees him as a possible replacement for skipper Marc Richards.
"Liam has pace and power and he's a big lad who offers a real threat up front. I'll be delighted if we can get him fit and sign him," he said.
"We are going to miss Marc Richards's goals, but Liam has a decent record."
With other clubs interested in the front man, Adams is refusing to count his chickens, but is confident Vale can seal the deal.
"We are in the driving seat," he added. "Liam will continue his rehabilitation with us. Other clubs have made him the same sort of offer, so the fact he's here gives us a head start.
"But because of the nature of his injury, it's important we check it out before committing ourselves."
The arrivals of former Crewe skipper Artell and Exeter's Richard Duffy means Vale now have six central defenders on their books, but Adams said there would be no players leaving before the start of the season.
He was particularly happy to sign former Shrewsbury stopper Neal, describing him as a "real steal."
The 26-year-old played 39 times as the Shrews won promotion to League One last season, and Adams said: "Every fan who saw our game at Greenhous Meadow last season will tell you what a fine goalkeeper he is. He broke our hearts that day."
Adams was also delighted by the arrival of 31-year-old Artell, who has been released by Crewe.
"David led Crewe to promotion and, while a lot of the other players took the plaudits, he was the glue that held them together," he said.
And of 26-year-old Duffy, who has 13 full international caps, Adams added: "I didn't think we would get him here, so it's fantastic. He's a great addition to the squad."
Comments
by lanternhead
Tuesday, July 10 2012, 8:47PM
“humilis laythevalius, a noun, ??, reads more like an an adjective or possibly an adverb, humilis laythevalius to be.”
by Vale_For_Real
Monday, July 09 2012, 9:06PM
“Valefan4ever said
"You can still get 33/1 with Ladbrokes"
Do you mean for League 2 Champions only?
On the same story I looked at Betfair for a Vale finishing top 7 bet.
Either I'm not understanding or they are offering odds that I could get with a certain win by sticking the money in a building society,”
by laythevale
Monday, July 09 2012, 2:19PM
“Humilis Laythevalius
(noun) A humble football fan who knows his place in the pecking order. Can be further identified by his willingness to pay full wack for a season ticket in the knowledge that the playing budget will increase. Would rather pay £15 to see a promotion outfit than £10 to watch a bunch of also-rans. Not fixated with boardroom matters, sightings of this creature are rare in Burslem, England - but numbers are increasing due to an uncontrolled outbreak of common sense in the local population.”
by Valefan4ever
Monday, July 09 2012, 1:07PM
“You can still get 33/1 with Ladbrokes”
by lanternhead
Monday, July 09 2012, 1:06PM
“humility lay the vale???, you don't appear to be a humile person.”
by wattomadeley
Sunday, July 08 2012, 10:54AM
“The best business Keith Ryder did, was to keep Micky Adams on board, despite the efforts of this paper to get him off to Gillingham. The man is an icon, as the quality of his signings and their reasons for coming demonstrate. PVFC is not in their blood, but MA is. If the manager has the respect & commitment of his players, he is well on the way to achieving his goal.
I can't wait for the new season to start, all the traumas of the last few seasons seem so long ago, the inept board, incompitent chairman & chief executive, seem a lifetime away. I have almost got the scars of Jim (I'm waiting for a call from Barcelona) Gannon out of my system.
Good luck to Micky and the boys.....lets get it on.”
by yoblet
Sunday, July 08 2012, 8:45AM
“what a great manager we have ,surely this is our year,got on at 40/1 seems a good price now with the new sighnings,in Mickey we believe *** on you whites..”
by laythevale
Saturday, July 07 2012, 10:53PM
“His name's not Keith Ridey, either........”
by laythevale
Saturday, July 07 2012, 10:52PM
“C'mon. We've got no interest payments this season and we've put up ST prices. How could we possibly have a SMALLER squad budget?
Keith Ridey is riding on a wave of goodwill for no other reason that his name is not Bill Bratt. Lets not forget that many small creditors and the council tax payers of Stoke-on-Trent are bank rolling our largess. So let's keep a bit of humility about us. We won't be able to pull this stunt again. We need to make the most of these "happy days".”
by algy7
Saturday, July 07 2012, 7:50PM
“As my old aquaintance, P_Swan has already said, and I can only repeat, Mr Ryder has certainly been true to his word. We were told, when we attended the supporters meeting with Mr. Ryder, earlier this year, that the transfer budget would be bigger than last season. But we had no idea that it would be as big as it obviously is, no wonder Mr. Bob Young said that Micky Adams is walking round with a massive grin on his face.
A thought. With all the mixed messages flying around yesterday, there was some confusion as to whether the Vale had, or not had, the Football Leagues final approval of the deal. If not, then the transfer embargo is still in place, so the new additions must have only given their intentions to sign. We wouldn't want the club to fall foul of the rules when we are this close.
It now seems certain that we will probably sign Liam Dickenson when he has proved his fitness, so not wishing to be too greedy, but a poster on the OVF site said, that when he was leavingthe club shop, he bumped into Billy Paynter who told him that HE could be signing for the Vale, now that prospect really does make the mouth water.
With a better goalie in place, behind a stronger back four, and an improved mid-field with two fast wingers and the prospect of those two up front, the Vale MUST be a contender for promotion next year. KEEP THE FAITH.”