Port Vale have moved quickly to tie Manager Darrell Clarke to a long term contract at Vale Park until the Summer of 2027.
Clarke has overseen 56 matches, with the Valiants returning a ‘points per match’ average of 1.55 points per match, surpassing his efforts during a successful spell at Walsall. As Vale move towards their first Play-Off Final in just under thirty years this Saturday, Valiant fans will be delighted that Manager Clarke is locked into the Club on a long term contract and any fears of a departure can be put to rest.
Port Vale’s Director of Football Dave Flitcroft said:
“Darrell is a credit to the club with his passion, his drive and his enthusiasm. I knew that was a part of who he was when we brought him to the club but now I’ve seen it and felt it.
“What we know now, a year on, is that Darrell has developed fantastic relationships with the Chair and the owners, with myself, with the Chief Executive, the Board and everyone around the club.
“With regard to players, Darrell wins their hearts and minds. They would run through a brick wall for him. He cultivates a very good dressing room environment and passes on to players the values of the club from the top – from Carol.
“If you want to build anything strong you need a really strong foundation. The decision on a five-year deal is to keep everyone settled and make sure that everyone knows that for the next five years we are working towards something we all believe in as a club.
“Even during very testing times with Covid, problems with injuries and unprecedented personal challenges, Darrell has come through it with unbelievable strength of character. You look at someone’s qualities through adversity and the truth is that he dealt with all those challenges brilliantly.
“Darrell also takes a keen interest in the Academy. Darrell watches the players and has them training with him. He’s not an isolated manager who just wants to focus on the First Team and nothing else. And that’s really important to us as a club.
“Ultimately, we believe Darrell Clarke takes us forward to where we want to get to. He’s got the ability to do that and he’s certainly got the passion.”
Port Vale Manager Darrell Clarke said:
“This was such an easy decision for me. The support my team and I have received has been second to none and we are building something very special at Port Vale. My focus, as always, remains on continuing to improve – match by match, season by season. And I’m so grateful for this opportunity to work with such incredible people.
“I love working for this club, the owners and Dave Flitcroft. We have such an honest and upfront relationship. The support I have received from day one has been fantastic. We constantly challenge each other because we are all obsessed with football and are driven to create a culture of improvement and success for Port Vale.
“The togetherness throughout the entire club has been shown on the pitch with the season we have had so far. I want more. We all want more. This appetite is needed to drive the club forward. Building a winning culture is what we are all about.”
