Port Vale: Adams happy to save funds

PORT Vale boss Micky Adams says his squad's rich vein of form has forced him to keep his chequebook under lock and key.

Adams only boasts two loanees, in Bristol Rovers striker Lewis Haldane and frontman Jamie Guy, who arrived on a three-month deal from Colchester United at the start of last month.

But the Vale chief has not felt compelled to make further reinforcements in the wake of his side's seven-match unbeaten run.

"At this level you are always plugging holes," said Adams.

"It's like putting your finger in a dam, because you plug one hole, but water shoots out of another.

"That's to do with players' form, injuries and suspensions.

"But I've felt, of late, that we haven't needed to do anything because I've been pleased with the majority and we've not had too many injuries. I don't want to bring people in and waste money for the sake of it."

However, Adams insists he still has funds available for further loan signings, while he has not taken his eye off the market.

Only this week, he contacted Crewe to check on the availability of striker Anthony Elding.

But Adams declined to follow up his initial interest before the 27-year-old sealed a two-month loan move to non-league Kettering.

"We had an interest in the boy Elding and he's gone down to Kettering," said Adams.

"But that's what it was, an interest. It wasn't us saying 'we're going to take him'.

"It was about considering if he was available and interested in coming to us and how much it would cost, but it only got as far as asking if he was available."

Vale's seven-match unbeaten run, including six league games, leaves them five points adrift of the League Two play-off zone in 13th.

But, if they continue to flirt around the play-off positions, Adams believes he may need more financial muscle to lead a meaningful promotion push after Christmas.

Adams said: "If we're going to continue in the vein we're doing and just clinging on to the edge of the play-off places, then we might need some money in the second-half of the season to have a push."

Defence key for Lee: Page 53