Caretaker boss looking forward to the challenge

Caretaker Manager Rob Page takes charge of his first game this Saturday in the absence of Micky Adams, following the manager’s hip operation last weekend.

Page was promoted to the position following Vale’s win against Coventry City and feels honoured to be in the hot seat, albeit temporarily.

He said: “I would like to say how proud I am to be given this opportunity. They have entrusted it to me short term while Micky is recuperating and I am extremely proud to be caretaker manager of this football club.

“The week leading up to the Coventry match was a taster for me. Micky took a backwards step and I took training building up to it.

“Of course he was there at the game on Saturday and then I have had them to myself this week and it has been a great week – we have enjoyed it.

“It is business as usual and it is all about hard work when we cross that white line, we will get on with our work and get it done and it is exactly the same as regards preparation for the next game.

“I am fully committed to the cause and I have got Micky’s backing as well. I have been having conversations with him every day.

“We are speaking all the time and he likes to be updated with regards to every single thing because that’s how he is, but it is all going to plan so far.

“Short term you are not going to make drastic changes and I think it’s important that we don’t, we have just had a good win and so it’s business as usual.

“We have now got a bit of confidence going into the next game and nothing will change with regards of that, it’s important that we keep that momentum going into the next game.”

Page admits he has learned an awful lot from Micky Adams in his short time at the club, but he knows he must stand by his own decisions during the game at Prenton Park.

He said: “It has been fantastic for me standing shoulder to shoulder with him and you can’t help but learn from him, his decision making as the game goes on, watching how he works.

“You pick things up, but there’s nothing like that bit of pressure you have got on yourself when come Saturday I will be looking to the left and to the right and he won’t be there, but I am looking forward to it and I am really excited.

“Mark Grew has done nothing but help me in the short time I have been in charge. I can count on Mark and I know whatever I want done he will do for me.

“He knows that the things the manager doesn’t want to be involved in, he will take that responsibility and he’ll take that away, which he has been brilliant for the last few days.

“It won’t change at the weekend either, he will be there for me to bounce ideas off – as managers and assistants and staff, you have to have that where you can bounce ideas off each other.

“The attitude of the players has been terrific. They have been professional and got on with their work and done everything I have asked of them and more and I commend them for that.”