Port Vale have appointed David Flitcroft as their new Director of Football. He will work alongside interim manager Danny Pugh following the sacking of John Askey last month.
Flitcroft is returning to football, six months after leaving his role as Bolton Wanderers assistant manager.
Port Vale Confirm Appointment of David Flitcroft as the Club’s New Director of Football
Flitcroft Brings Plenty of Experience to the Role
The vastly experienced Flitcroft has coached since his playing career ended but takes on a new role after more than 30 years in the game.
He started as a coach at Rochdale, assisting Keith Hill, before following him to Barnsley. When Hill was sacked, Flitcroft took caretaker charge, winning two of his three games, before getting the job permanently.
Since his exit from Barnsley in 2013, Flitcroft has plied his trade in Leagues One and Two. He had a very successful spell in charge of Bury, guiding them to promotion in 2015.
Spells at Swindon Town and Mansfield Town followed. He guided Mansfield to the play-offs in his first full season in charge but was sacked after defeat to Newport County. His most recent role was assistant manager to Keith Hill at Bolton Wanderers but was dismissed along with Hill when they failed to keep Bolton in League One.
What Was Said
Speaking to the clubs’ official website, Port Vale co-owner and Chair Carol Shanahan OBE said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have Dave join the Board at Port Vale. What began as conversations around the managerial vacancy developed into an understanding that we needed more investment to support all aspects of the core football business.
“Dave is vastly experienced, deeply passionate about the game and understands the potential in Port Vale FC. Our aspiration is to become an established Championship club and Dave will help us to shape that vision and put the building blocks in place for our continued evolution.”
Flitcroft added: “I am delighted to join the Board at Port Vale and excited to start working with Danny (Pugh), the backroom team, the players and my fellow Directors.
“I admire the ambition, vision and investment of the owners. Port Vale fans have really been through the mill over the last 20 years but their support has been first class – no matter what. I’ll be working to give them a football operation to be proud of – demanding excellence as standard and 100 per cent graft and commitment. It’s a hugely exciting project to be part of.”
The first task for Flitcroft will be to find a new manager. The team have improved under Danny Pugh and Frank Sinclair and sit 16th in League Two, 11 points clear of the bottom two.
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