Port Vale have made what some might say is their most important signing of the close season today with Andy Crosby joining the Club as Assistant Manager on a permanent basis. Crosby joined the Valiants on a temporary contract at the tail end of the campaign, supporting Manager Darryl Clarke for the final 12 games of the season, but has now made that move permanent.
Crosby said today;
“I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the club permanently. I’m excited by the vision and plan set out by Carol and the board. They have a plan of progression and know where they want to get to, I’m looking forward to returning and playing my part in helping to bring those plans to fruition.
“When Darrell and I had our first face-to-face conversation, he outlined what he would like me to do and he gave me a lot of responsibility which I thank him for. I got to know him over that period of time. He’s got a passion and desire to want to improve but he also listens to other people’s points of view and hopefully with the other football staff we can come up with a plan to attack the league and try to be successful.
“I’ve been in the game a long time now as a player and assistant. I believe there has to be a connection between everyone. There has to be a common goal and I have to get to know the players as quickly as I possibly can and learn their personal traits. We have to remember they’re all people first and foremost and they’ve all got their own individual story. I have to earn their trust off the pitch and try to help them as much as I possibly can to develop them as people and footballers and I’ll be trying to do that from day one when we return.”
Port Vale Director of Football, David Flitcroft, added;
“I think this is a really important signing for the club. What we’re trying to build at the club is an elite training environment and support system for any player that joins us or is already with us. Outstanding coaching, organisational skills, knowledge, work ethic and enthusiasm are all the qualities that he brings to the football club. His attention to detail is outstanding.
“Myself , Darrell and Andy are from similar football worlds in terms of our football paths and careers and we’ve all had to work incredibly hard to get to the levels in where we’ve got to in coaching and management so I know Andy’s values align with those of Darrell and I.
“He loves to be out on the grass, to coach players to make them better and to improve them. All the coaching environments he has been in have been elite. That’s what we at Port Vale are building and Andy will be a big part of that as we keep driving forward with our football plan.”
Crosby brings a wealth of experience into the backroom, having worked as Assistant Manager to Nigel Adkins first at Scunthorpe, before following Atkins to Southampton, Reading, Sheffield United and Hull City for a total of 448 matches. Crosby is also currently acting as the Caretaker Manager of Northern Ireland Under 21s and has managed the last 7 matches, winning 3.
Picture – Harriet Lander
