Port Vale: Valiants ready to fight for promotion says Mark Grew

PORT Vale stalwart Mark Grew is praying stability off the field will finally give the club a fighting chance of winning promotion.

The Valiants could be under new ownership by the end of this month after businessman Paul Wildes's £1.25m bid was endorsed by the administrators on Tuesday.

Vale's promotion chances last season were wrecked by a 10-point deduction for going into administration.

However, the second-placed Valiants won't suffer further penalties this season if 36-year-old Wildes's takeover offer is approved by the Football League.

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And Grew, the Vale assistant manager, said: "It is what everyone at the club has been waiting for. Everyone has worked hard and got on with the job.

"But when Keith Ryder's takeover didn't happen this summer, you couldn't help but get that dreaded feeling."

Grew is now hoping funds can be found for Micky Adams to strengthen his squad.

Vale are already facing selection problems because Ryan Burge will be out for at least two weeks after injuring knee ligaments in Monday's 3-0 win at home to Oxford.

That leaves Vale short in midfield for Saturday's game at home to Wycombe because Sam Morsy is suspended and Doug Loft is also injured.

Vale have made their best start to a season since the 1953/54 campaign.

That team became club legends by reaching the FA Cup semi-finals and winning the Third Division North title.

However, Grew says no-one is taking a promotion challenge for granted.

He added: "To do what we have so far is Fantasy Island stuff....but it's only so far. I would rather be in this position at the beginning of March."

Meanwhile, the club's administrators have revealed Wolves were paid £25,000 of the £75,000 fee Vale received from Barnsley for defender Lee Collins last season. The payment was part of a sell-on clause in Collins's contract.

The payment is revealed in the administrators' progress report, which covers their running of the club up to September 8.

The costs of administrators Begbies Traynor came to £378,025. That was for 1,518.3 hours of work at an average of £248.98 per hour.

However, they have agreed with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to only claim £225,000.

Administrator Bob Young confirmed his company were writing off the rest of their fees.

The city council have contributed £440,000 towards the club's total running costs, but won't be asked for any more funding.

The club have also been helped by donations of £16,152 from fans – including £15,000 from Port Vale Supporters' Club.

This money was used to pay £7,582 for coach travel for the first-team's away games.

VALE'S Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Area quarter-final at home to Bradford will take place on Tuesday, December 4 (7.15pm).

VALE'S reserves won 4-0 at home to Wrexham yesterday. Luke Beesley, Ryan Lloyd and Kingsley James scored, along with trialist Sean McAllister, the former Shrewsbury midfielder.