Port Vale: Bratt has no regrets over contract offers
PORT Vale chairman Bill Bratt insists he has no regrets after boss Micky Adams transfer-listed three players who had just signed new contracts.
Midfielders Ross Davidson and Danny Edwards, both aged 18, plus 21-year-old defender Luke Prosser had their one-year contracts registered with the Football League on July 1.
The club offered the deals before Adams was appointed on June 5, but have now been shown the exit door – along with strikers Danny Glover and Steve Thompson, plus midfielder Dave Howland.
Davidson has already found a new club after agreeing to join Blue Square North side Stafford Rangers on a month's loan.
However, Bratt insists the club's board simply acted on the recommendations of the club's previous management team, headed by Dean Glover.
Bratt said: "It isn't a matter of regret. There was a different manager in place when they were signed and we follow the manager's reports and which players he wants.
"Micky inherited the situation where he has got quite a few players who probably wouldn't have been here if he'd been around.
"The players were offered contracts based on what the management team thought of them, it's as simple as that."
Bratt, pictured, also says the club were obliged to offer deals to out-of-contract players in a set time period, which expired before Adams's appointment.
Glover, who replaced Lee Sinnott in October, was relieved of his managerial duties at the end of last season after Vale finished in 18th place in League Two.
Adams insists the transfer-listed players are surplus to requirements at this stage, while he needs to generate cash to recruit new faces. Glover, who has a year left on his contract, Davidson, Prosser and Edwards all graduated through the club's youth set-up. Howland and Thompson arrived last summer on two-year deals.
Meanwhile, Adams could boost his ranks later today by signing Colchester United striker Jamie Guy on loan after The U's agreed to the deal in principle. Adams says he is confident over the striker's prospects of being included in tomorrow's squad as Vale open their League Two campaign by hosting Rochdale (3pm).
He is also hopeful of funding a deal, possibly on a non-contract basis, for fellow trialist Kris Taylor, who could also be included in the squad.
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