Port Vale: Micky Adams says fans must pay fitting tribute to Bill Bell
MICKY Adams has called on Port Vale fans to show their respect to former chairman Bill Bell.
The man credited with being the driving force behind the modernisation of Vale Park died on Tuesday after a long battle with illness, at the age of 81.
A minute's silence will be held before tomorrow's League Two clash at home to Morecambe.
Flags around the ground will fly at half-mast and the players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect.
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"I hope genuine Port Vale fans will observe the silence and give him the respect he deserves for what he achieved here," said Adams.
"We might not have been playing in such a wonderful stadium if it wasn't for him because he transformed it in many respects."
Bell, from Brown Edge, oversaw one of the most successful periods in the club's history.
His 15-year reign, which started in 1987, saw the Valiants twice win promotion to what is now the Championship in 1988/89 and 1993/94 under manager John Rudge.
Vale also won the Football League Trophy in 1993, as well as achieving memorable FA Cup giant-killings against top-flight sides Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.
But Bell was also chairman when the club slipped into administration in 2002.
"I met him once or twice," said Adams.
"I even asked him the question once 'what would our relationship have been like?' (if I had worked under him).
"I heard he was a little fiery at times and, with me having the reputation I've got in that respect, it would have been quite tasty.
"He has to be respected, for everything that he did for the club.
"I would have liked to have worked with him, but then again I didn't ever have to ask him for anything!
"Mark Grew tells the story that Bill was a quite straight-forward kind of man.
"If he could help you he would and if he couldn't he didn't.
"He must have had a bit of Yorkshire in him.
"I'm quite straight-talking at times and that was what they said Bill was, so I wouldn't have minded that."
Bell's funeral will take place at Swan Bank Methodist Church in Burslem on February 27 (12.30pm).
GUY PEARSON
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