Port Vale: Paul Wildes vows to bring Championship football back to Burslem
PAUL Wildes has vowed to deliver on his promises to build a bright future for Port Vale.
On the day his £1.25m bid to buy the club was endorsed by Vale's administrators, the 36-year-old businessman revealed plans to build a sustainable community club with ambitions to bring Championship football back to Burslem.
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Port Vale's new preferred bidder Paul Wildes at Vale Park yesterday.
•Read yesterday's press conference interview with Paul Wildes in full.
But while his first public pronouncements on his vision for the club will encourage fans frustrated by years of unfilled promises, his ambitions were sufficiently realistic to help curb expectations.
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So for every promise to invest in Micky Adams's League Two promotion-chasers, Wildes made it clear there would have to be a return on the pitch.
Similarly, while he is ready to inject cash and expertise into the commercial side of the club, he will be expecting a dividend.
Addressing the media at Vale Park yesterday, he said: "I've been very impressed with what's been happening on the field, and even more impressed by the potential of the stadium, the land and buildings surrounding it and the commercial activities that could be brought to Vale Park.
"They are the reasons why I'm so excited by this project. The whole club has massive untapped potential and our job will be to help it grow."
The administrators said Wildes had only revealed his interest in the club two weeks ago, but since then had done everything asked of him, including the payment of a £100,000 non-returnable deposit to ensure exclusivity while he awaits ratification of his deal by the Football League.
He added: "We're coming to a club which will have no debts and which will own its ground, which is relatively unique up and down the footballing world," he added.
"We're coming to it with ideas on how we can develop the off-field activities around the club to make the commercial venture a success over a number of years.
"We'll make decisions for the long-term benefit of the club, even though that might mean the payback is years, rather than months, away.
"But it's exciting to be here and I can't wait to get started."
Initially he intends to be a hands-on chairman based at the club full time, starting from this Monday.
And one of his first aims is to transfer a training company he already owns to Vale Park to help fulfil a pledge on community links given to Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Wildes has big plans for the team too.
"I don't want to put pressure on Micky Adams, but the club has the potential to be in the Championship because that's where its been in the past.
"I'm not saying Port Vale will be in the Champions League in six years.
"But we'll take the team as far as we can, in fact we'll try our hardest to be the best we can be on and off the field.
"But before then we've got to make the club a sustainable business.
"In five or 10 years' time, hopefully I'll still be around and the club will be in a better place than it is now."
Wildes, who lives in Chester, said he was conscious of fans being wary of him after the failure of previous preferred bidder Keith Ryder to complete his deal.
"Actions speak louder than words, and as soon as we can complete, we will," he added.
"We'll then start the work on bringing the club to where it needs to be.
"Give me time and I'll prove myself. The fans will see that I'll do what I said I'd do."
It was also revealed yesterday that the players who penned two-year contracts in the summer will revert to their original deals when the takeover is complete.
All were asked to sign revised one-year contracts when the club started the season in administration.
Comments
by Nicko12324
Thursday, October 18 2012, 10:09PM
“Razz lad....I'm still laughing at the thought of you being a Stokie since you were born......how did you know?
Anyway you've got excellent computer literacy for a 2 year old keep going me old son!
Love your definition of banter, too.....you insult us ..............and that's banter. Probably is down Fenton way I suppose.”
by NZVALE
Thursday, October 18 2012, 7:58PM
“razzled - i'd say a good 10,000 of your fans are there just to see the other teams that you have got coming to your ground. In all honestity which i would probably do as well if i was in the uk now.
like i said, give it a few years and we'll see how fortunes change!”
by PVFCinLincs
Thursday, October 18 2012, 5:10PM
“by Razza20vt
Thursday, October 18 2012, 10:59AM
@Valiantfosse you fail fans are as think as pig S*** i didnt say we were in the premiership league, i said we were an established premiership side. Bit early for you mate oh well what time do you sign on. haha".
Razza, think it might be a bit early for you as well or is it your lardie fingers hitting the wrong keys. The "c" and "n" are not near each other either. So could it actually be sjoke fans are as THICK as pig s**t.”
by johnarc
Thursday, October 18 2012, 4:15PM
“Good luck to the new owners and Micky Adams and his men. Let's all hope they can build on their wonderful start, and enjoy some success at last. All the best from a Stoke supporter.”
by ValiantFosse
Thursday, October 18 2012, 2:50PM
“Razz, you must be the star turn on here, how can you be an established premiership side playing in the Premier league?”
by Darren1810
Thursday, October 18 2012, 1:03PM
“why not reserve your comments for why the wonderful Shawcross was not picked forEngland Razza? such an accomplished footballing centre half is worthy of your praise and leave us Vale fans to our business please lardie”
by stgeorge1st
Thursday, October 18 2012, 12:07PM
“i've actually got a bit of time for some of the genuine die hard lardy neck enders because they have suffered watching their fair amount of dross down the years . initially they were just glad to be watching football in the prem , however, now they are not happy . the football is garbage and pullis is limited with his tactics and boring rugby style. how long before the pullis out chant is heard ?
anyway moving onto real football now . happy times could be on the way folks . the football is as good as we have seen it for over a decade and at long last we have a manager who looks as though he may get some financial support . we have suffered enough but good things come to those who wait .
mr wildes seems to have the bit between his teeth and has been successful in business so far , lets hope he can turn v p into a thriving 7 days a week business hub . if he achieves this then maybe the football can begin to thrive also.
port vale is my religion and vale park is my church , hopefully the congregation will become bigger by the week and some friendly faces will return. UTV”
by danishdelight
Thursday, October 18 2012, 12:02PM
“razz
If you was born a Stoke fan, that is were i dont understand you. You of all ppl should know how it is, when you club is down in the divisions. Do you really think Stoke would be in PL if Mr.365bet had got a other club?
I dont think so, i have nothing against Stoke or their fans, im not born in England, or born into a Port Vale familie, but tryning to say Stoke is much better than Port Vale is something even us fans can see.
So dont you worry.”
by Razza20vt
Thursday, October 18 2012, 10:59AM
“@NZVALE Blar blar blar one trick pony blar blar blar considering how poor we play week in week out this is now our 5 season in the premier, imagine if we played good?! and im sure the samba style is flowing at the vale is it? oh that right i forget your in the worlds best league, btw what was the last gate at the fail??? i enjoy watching stoke play as do 25,000 other fans.
@Valiantfosse you fail fans are as think as pig S*** i didnt say we were in the premiership league, i said we were an established premiership side. Bit early for you mate oh well what time do you sign on. haha”
by ValiantFosse
Thursday, October 18 2012, 10:02AM
“What a clown is Razza, does not know which league he is in. Last time I looked they were in the Premier League, the Premiership is a Rugby Union competition. Oh! perhaps he is right.”