Dear Valiants,
Before we speak publicly, we want to speak to you directly and openly about where the club is and what you can expect going forwards.
First and foremost, we want to say that we understand and share the frustration and disappointment you’re feeling, after our relegation from League One was confirmed last night. All season, home and away, you’ve continued to show outstanding support and, put simply, we haven’t matched that often enough with our league performances on the pitch.
It hasn't been the season any of us wanted or expected, and we take responsibility for that.
There's a lot that remains strong within our football club, but we know that on the pitch, we have ultimately fallen short and have to improve. Our promise to you is that we will work to improve the club’s football structure and long-term plan; that's our priority, and that is what we're already focusing on ahead of next season.
That work has not been driven by this week’s outcome alone, but by recognising that we need to change things in order to build a stronger and more sustainable foundation for the future.
We have already spent time reviewing the operations of our football department and we will provide a full update that outlines the changes in due course. We will also give you further information on the significant investment into infrastructure to support the first-team, including the installation of a SIS pitch.
In the immediate term, our focus is on ensuring we have the right football structure in place to support better decision-making, finalising a thorough review of recruitment processes and squad development, and resetting standards and expectations across all areas of the football side of the club.
We’re determined to respond in the right way and understand that words alone won’t change how you feel today, but felt it was important to let you know how we'll be tackling the challenge ahead going into next season.
We remain as committed as ever, and our responsibility now is to deliver through actions.
Jon Brady has already given us a renewed sense of purpose and belief since joining the club, and he will receive our full backing this summer to deliver a new era for Port Vale.
Thank you, Valiants, for your continued support. We're extremely grateful to each and every one of you, and look forward to sharing more with you soon.
The Board of Directors
