Port Vale is delighted to announce the appointment of David Flitcroft as its new Director of Football.
He will immediately begin supporting Interim Manager Danny Pugh with First Team affairs while taking responsibility for the appointment of the new Manager.
Dave, 47, brings with him a wealth of experience in football, business and management – having spent more than 30 years in the game as a player, coach and manager.
He was the manager at Barnsley, Bury, Swindon and Mansfield where he clocked up more than 300 games and had an average win percentage of more than 40 per cent.
Dave guided Barnsley to Championship safety in the 2012/13 season, led Bury to promotion to League One in the 2013/14 season and led Swindon to seventh place in League Two before joining promotion rivals Mansfield Town who he took to the playoffs in 2019.
During his time in management he has a proven track record of developing young players which clubs have been able to sell on.
Dave will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of football operations at Port Vale – from the development of training facilities and enhancement of coaching, backroom support and analysis to player recruitment and development.
Port Vale co-owner and Chair Carol Shanahan OBE said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have Dave join the Board at Port Vale. What began as conversations around the managerial vacancy developed into an understanding that we needed more investment to support all aspects of the core football business.
“Dave is vastly experienced, deeply passionate about the game and understands the potential in Port Vale FC. Our aspiration is to become an established Championship club and Dave will help us to shape that vision and put the building blocks in place for our continued evolution.”
Dave said: “I am delighted to join the Board at Port Vale and excited to start working with Danny (Pugh), the backroom team, the players and my fellow Directors.
“I admire the ambition, vision and investment of the owners. Port Vale fans have really been through the mill over the last 20 years but their support has been first class – no matter what. I’ll be working to give them a football operation to be proud of – demanding excellence as standard and 100 per cent graft and commitment. It’s a hugely exciting project to be part of.”