Port Vale‘s decision to part company with manager Darren Moore has come too little, too late, according to data analyst experts Opta.
The 51-year-old arrived at Vale Park in February 2024, signing a huge five-and-a-half-year contract. The length of his terms caused widespread debate at the time, especially as he had been sacked by Huddersfield Town just two weeks earlier.
Moore endured a poor start at his new surroundings and failed to record a win in his opening nine games. Eventually, the Staffordshire-based side were relegated from League One.
Still, his appointment was always made with a long-term vision in mind and his first full season wielded success. Vale earned promotion from League Two at the first time of asking, finishing second and four points behind champions Doncaster Rovers.
Moore departure inevitable
This season was always about cementing their place in the third tier. The early stages proved to be a struggle and they picked up just two points from their opening seven outings. However, their performances arguably deserved much more, and it wasn’t a surprise to see them pick up their first victory of the campaign at Exeter City in September.
This kick-started a run of three successive wins, but their triumph over Barnsley on September 27th remains their last league success. With pressure beginning to build from the stands, a 5-0 reverse at Huddersfield on Boxing Day signalled the end of Moore’s tenure. In a statement, the club admitted that it had become impossible to ignore their on-field displays any longer:
“This has been a difficult decision and one we haven’t taken lightly, but we believe now is the right moment to make a change. We have given the situation time and support to ensure we were doing everything to give this project the best possible chance of success, and while we truly hoped it would turn, we must act in what we believe is the best long-term interest of Port Vale.
“We fully understand the frustration and disappointment around results, which has been felt by supporters and throughout the club. As we approach the halfway point of the season, we believe this decision will give the team the best possible chance of moving in the right direction during the second half of the campaign, and we will now take the necessary steps to move the club forward and rebuild momentum.
“Darren worked extremely hard during his time at Vale Park and played a key role in guiding the club back to League One at the first time of asking, an achievement for which he will always be respected and thanked. We would like to place on record our thanks to Darren for his commitment and hard work and wish him the very best for the future.”
Relegation a near certainty, despite sacking
A number of names have been linked to the vacant position, many of which hold League One pedigree. The likes of Darren Ferguson, Jon Brady, Mark Kennedy and Matt Bloomfield are all considered contenders, whilst first-team coach Jamie Smith will oversee affairs in the short term.
It appears as if the change of guard will have little impact on the second half of the season though. With the gap to 20th-placed Plymouth Argyle already 10 points, the new manager will face a mammoth task to keep the club in the division.
This is a view shared by data experts Opta, who have given Vale a huge 89.1% chance of suffering relegation come May. Fellow promoted team Doncaster are next in line at 66.5%. Meanwhile, Plymouth’s recent form has seen their fears ease somewhat. Tom Cleverley’s side are now rated at 30.18% likely to drop in League Two for the first time since 2020.