MIKE Newton is considering making Port Vale's directors individual offers for their shares in an attempt to win control of the club, write Jon Owen and Michael Baggaley.

The New York-based businessman remains determined to invest and become chairman, even though the directors voted 5-3 against his £500,000 offer last month.

That bid would have been largely to buy new shares in the club, but Newton believes offering directors the chance to cash in on their own stakes could be more successful.

The 40-year-old former Oldham director, pictured below right, said: "One of the options available to me is to approach the directors and make a formal offer to purchase their shares.

"It isn't my preferred way of doing the deal because the money would be going directly to the directors rather than to Port Vale. But I am always looking at what to do next.

"The financial position of the club is extremely precarious, so some directors might appreciate the opportunity to get out.

"It would give me a foot in the door."

Newton could make a general offer to all eight directors for their combined £359,400 of the total £1.132m shares in the club. But under club rules, he can only own 24.9 per cent or £282,000 of Vale's issued shares.

He could also try to tip a new vote in his favour by targeting the five directors who voted against him.

Chairman Bill Bratt, vice-chairman Peter Jackson, Graham Mudie, Glenn Oliver and Stan Meigh voted against Newton last month.

Newton could try to win a new vote by removing three of those directors from the board by buying their shares.

He would then hope a new vote of the reduced board would go 3-2 in his favour.

But individual directors would need the approval of the board to transfer their shares.

Vale's most recent accounts show Bratt owns £44,120 of shares, while Jackson and Meigh own £150,000 combined and Meigh also owns £50,020 in his own name. Oliver owns £30,760 of shares and Mudie £500.

Of the directors who voted in favour of Newton, Mike Lloyd owns £50,000 of shares, Paul Humphreys £20,000 and Mike Thompstone £14,000.

Pop star Robbie Williams is the club's largest single shareholder with £249,000, but is not a director.

Newton says he could also simply wait for the board to change its mind about his proposal or buy the club if it enters administration.

But his claim that the club faces administration has been denied by Bratt.

Newton joined supporters in the away end during the side's 2-0 win at Bradford on Saturday and will play for fans' team 'Portly Vale' on Saturday morning before the first-team game with Aldershot.

He said: "There is a serious cash flow problem at Vale and the club is heading for administration.

"The current board can't continue running the club any longer.

"I am determined to take control of the club. I feel a sense of responsibility towards the team and the fans."