Defender puts pen to paper

Port Vale defender Liam Chilvers has signed a new one-year contract with the club.

The former Arsenal trainee made 21 appearances for the club last season after joining from AFC Telford and scored two crucial late goals against Rochdale and Northampton Town to help Vale secure promotion back to League One.

Chilvers said: “It has been good to eventually get it signed, I’ve been away on holiday and people have been away at the club, it’s just been a case of getting us both together at the same time to do it, I’m delighted.”

With the departure of defenders Darren Purse and John McCombe, Chilvers is now the most experienced centre-back in the squad, with Joe Davis the only other recognised centre-back.

The 31-year-old said: “At the end of the season when I spoke to Micky he said he’d be bringing in other centre-backs and it would just be down to if you do well enough in pre-season to be playing.

“I’ve been keeping an eye out to see just in general who we’ve been signing, I will just have to wait and see what happens.”

With the players due to report back to the club on June 27, attention will soon turn to Vale’s pre-season preparations that include a six-day tour of Ireland to play Athlone Town and Bray Wanderers as well as friendlies at Vale Park against Derby County and Leicester City.

Chilvers has admitted he has kept on top of his fitness over the close season.

“I’ve been doing things prior to coming back, it’s been quite interesting.

“Even from the stuff I’ve done in the season I know it’s going to be hard,” said Chilvers.

To watch the full interview please watch Valiant Player.