Changes in the backroom staff and playing squad to take effect soon
Rob Page says the two-year deal he has signed this week will help attract new players to the club. The retained list will be announced on Saturday morning, and work to add to the squad has already started.
The manager is hoping to bring at least five new faces to the squad for next season, and possibly even more, should players who have been offered new contracts not stay with the club.
The Vale manager said: “We are having conversations now with players. There are definitely going to be new faces in the building, it is something that has got to be done at this football club.
“If I am honest, it needs turning on its head. We can have a shake up and have a right go and that is the aim. The staff have been in over the last couple of days putting things in place and changes will be made.”
One member of staff who won’t be here next season of course is the long-serving Mark Grew and he is somebody Page will no doubt miss having around the place.
He said: “Going back to five years ago when I first came into the club me and Grewy struck up a relationship where we just got on. It was a great working relationship on and off the field.
“Outside of work we had a great friendship and he has been brilliant for me since I took over, He has been there for me to lean on and the work he has done around the place has been great.
“He has had a back problem which needed an operation a couple of years ago and it has come back and he has got nerve damage. It may need another operation so he has decided to make a backwards step.
“It has been a difficult decision for him to make. He has been a fantastic servant to this football club and to be part of this football club for 25 years like he has been is fantastic.
“I hope the supporters appreciate that on Sunday and come along to support his testimonial. It gives them an opportunity for one final time to go and watch him put his boots on and wave him off.”