New signing Michael O’Connor has got the fans excited for the coming season, especially due to the midfielders brilliant CV over recent years, and he is very pleased to have found a club after several weeks of uncertainty.
“I’m happy to sign for Port Vale, I’ve had 3 weeks where I didn’t know what I was doing but the gaffer rang me last week and told me he wanted to sign me and I jumped at the chance to sign because this club has the potential to do big things.
“There was a bit of negotiating with the chairman but I’m just happy that the deal is done and I can’t wait to play here next year.”
The 26-year old started his career with the youth setup at Crewe Alexandra, before making 77 first-team appearances for the Cheshire side. After impressing for Crewe he was bought by Scunthorpe United for £250,000, where he helped the Iron escape relegation in his first season, before their subsequent relegation the next campaign.
When released by Scunthorpe, after making 36 appearances in their first season back in League One, O’Connor signed for League Two outfit Rotherham United. He went on to help the Millers to back-to-back promotions being a mainstay in both campaigns.
The Northern Ireland international feels that his pedigree mixed with the rest of the squad, can help the team be at the right end of the table come the end of the season. He said:
“I had two promotions at Rotherham back-to-back, so it’s good to come to another club and bring that success with you. It’s good to have that on your CV, I’m not coming here to keep them in the league because hopefully getting them into the play-offs will be an achievable aim.
“I was in and out of the team last season at Rotherham, so I just want to come here and play as much as I can. Hopefully, in the process I’ll help get this club as high up as possible because it is has the infrastructure to be a massive club.”
The highly rated player feels that he is in a good position to hit the ground running with Vale after already playing with the squad a couple of weeks ago.
“I played with the team at Newcastle Town and they’re a good set of lads and I’m sure I’ll get to know them even better during the South West tour, ready for the season ahead. I’ve actually played with a lot of them before during my time at Crewe Alexandra, like (Tom) Pope, Colin Daniel and Byron (Moore) plus I know Ryan McGivern from the Northern Ireland squad.”
) KO 7pm before rounding off the tour at Tiverton Town on Saturday 26th KO 3pm.rdO’Connor will be expected to feature during the 3 games down in the South West where Vale face Plymouth Parkway tonight [Monday] KO 7.30pm, Bodmin Town on Wednesday (23