Port Vale

Port Vale
Vale boss Foyle releases quintet Port Vale have released Ian Armstrong, Simon Eldershaw, Ryan Brown, Christian Hanson and Levi Reid as manager Martin Foyle rebuilds for next season. Foyle is now awaiting a response from Jeff Smith, Steve Rowland and Mark Innes after offering them new deals. Meanwhile, chairman Bill Bratt will stand down from his post this summer. "It has had a massive impact on my life. It has taken a lot out of me mentally and physically, as well as the financial side of it," Bratt, 59, said.

Tigers bring in McPhee up front
Hull have signed ex-Port Vale striker Stephen McPhee from Portuguese side SC Beira Mar in a £220,000 deal. The 23-year-old Scottish international had "no hesitation" in signing a two-year deal to join the Tigers. "A number of big clubs showed an interest, in Portugal and England," he told the Stellar Group website. "But once I had spoken to Peter Taylor at Hull, I knew it was too good an opportunity to turn down. Their plans for next season are fantastic." McPhee moved to Portugal from Vale on a free transfer at the start of the season and scored five goals in 21 Super Liga starts. However, he was unable to save them from relegation and is now focused on helping Hull reach the Premiership. "The club is determined not just to make up the numbers in the Championship, but to launch a serious challenge for a place in the Premiership," he added. "I shall be doing my utmost to score the goals we need. I want to have a nice break to recharge the batteries and then come back ready for a good pre-season."

Vale made to wait over investment
Port Vale must wait for another week before finding out whether they have secured the investment which could transform the future of the club. Chairman Bill Bratt has spoken to a potential North American investor, who is still mulling over whether to plough money into the cash-strapped club. Bratt is working hard to secure a financial boost before he quits this summer after two years at the helm. "We have asked for a considerable amount and he wants longer," he said.

Pair pen new deals at Vale Park
Defender Steve Rowland and winger Jeff Smith have both signed new contracts with Port Vale. Rowland, 23, has been at the club since he was a schoolboy and can play anywhere along the back four. Smith, 24, joined the club last summer and has impressed Port Vale boss Martin Foyle in his short time at the club. Foyle told the club website: "We need a squad of 21 players and I feel both Steve and Jeff can give us something next season." "We need to get a good squad together and keep them playing, not like last season when the treatment room was always full."

Vale sign Posh midfielder Sonner
Port Vale have completed the free transfer signing of Peterborough midfielder Danny Sonner. The 33-year-old impressed Vale boss Martin Foyle during a three-month loan spell at the end of last season. The Northern Ireland international's move was initially held up while he agreed his release from Posh, but the formalities have now been sorted out. Vale are also hoping to clinch the signing of another midfielder, Tony Dinning, from Bristol City.

Port Vale complete Dinning swoop
Port Vale have completed the signing of Bristol City midfielder Tony Dinning. The 30-year-old ended the season on loan at Vale Park and has agreed a deal after reaching a settlement on the remainder of his City contract. Dinning started just 10 games for the Robins after signing from Wigan Athletic last December following a successful loan spell. The former Stockport and Wolves player follows another former loanee Danny Sonner in joining Vale.

Innes signs contract at Vale Park
Defender Mark Innes, 26, has signed a 12-month contract with Port Vale. Innes, who can also play in midfield, arrived on trial at the end of last season after Chesterfield released him and he started the last two games. "Mark is an experienced player who will give us more options and has a lot to offer," boss Martin Foyle said. "He has turned down a better offer from a lower league club to come to Port Vale and that is the type of attitude we need - he will be a great asset."

Preston complete Hibbert signing
Preston and Port Vale will go to a Football League tribunal to establish the compensation for teenaged striker Dave Hibbert. Hibbert completed his move to Preston but the clubs were unable to agree on the fee Vale are entitled to for the out-of-contract 19-year-old. He told Preston's website: "I can't wait to get started now. "I'm delighted, obviously it's going to be hard. It's a massive challenge for me but it's one that I'm up for." Hibbert's season ended when he was injured in a match at Milton Keynes, which resulted in the player being airlifted from the field.

Davies delighted by Hibbert deal
Preston manager Billy Davies believes the club has done well to sign striker David Hibbert from Port Vale. The 19-year-old signed on Monday with a tribunal set to decide the fee. "We are very fortunate to get this young lad because there were several clubs interested," manager Billy Davies told the club's website. "We think his finishing is very good and - like David Nugent - he is very quick, but to be honest I think he is quite a way from first-team action."

Striker Sam makes switch to Vale
Port Vale have completed the signing of former Wrexham striker Hector Sam on a 12-month deal. The 27-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international joins following the departure of Dave Hibbert to Preston. Assistant boss Dean Glover told Vale's website: "We couldn't have got a better replacement. He is an experienced lad with an old head and an eye for goal. Sam scored 40 goals in 176 appearances for Wrexham almost half of which were from the bench. He joined the Welsh side from a club in Port of Spain in June 2000.

Bell considers move to Port Vale
Veteran left-back Micky Bell is thinking over a move to Port Vale. The 33-year-old, who was released by Bristol City last month, is training with the Vale squad while he gets a feel for the area. Bell has already agreed to join Vale but may not actually put pen to paper on his contract unil the end of July. He had spent eight years at Ashton Gate, playing over 300 games for the Robins after joining them for £150,000 from Wycombe in 1997.

Biddulph Victoria 1-7 Port Vale
Nathan Lowndes hit a hat-trick as Port Vale eased past Midland Alliance side Biddulph Victoria. Joe Cardle gave Vale a first-minute lead and Del Olaoye made it 2-0 before Tom Pope got one back, although Olaoye soon restored the two-goal lead. After Vale boss Martin Foyle made eight changes at the interval, Lowndes struck three times before Louis Briscoe added the seventh in the final minute. Vale's other scheduled pre-season game, at Stone Dominoes, was called off. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Port Vale: First half: Goodlad, Donnelly, Dinning, Pilkington, Bell, Cardle, Holmes, Sonner, Olaoye, Paynter, Matthews. Second half: Brain, Davies, James, Rowland, Donnelly, Cardle, Innes, Hulbert, Olaoye, Lowndes, Sam.

Defender Bell agrees to Vale move
Former Bristol City defender Mickey Bell has agreed terms to join Port Vale after training with them for the last three weeks. The 33-year-old was released by City last May after eight years and more than 300 games with the club. Bell told the club website: "I would be lying if I said the fact I knew a few of the lads wasn't a factor. "The rest of the players have made me feel welcome and I'm pleased to have sorted everything out."

Carlisle 1-0 Oldham
Carlisle won the Isle of Man tournament with a narrow victory over Oldham, thanks to a single Adam Murray goal. Murray was on target with a 25-yard free-kick in the 27th minute, and was named as man of the match while Derek Holmes was player of the tournament. However, for Oldham the game was marred in the second half when striker Luke Beckett was carried off with suspected medial knee ligament damage. In the third place play-off, Port Vale beat the Isle of Man side 4-0.

Foyle salutes Vale after victory
Port Vale boss Martin Foyle was proud of his side after the beat Brentford to move second in League One. Foyle said: "I told the players they would be in for a very hard game and that is what they got. I also thought one goal would probably decide it. "I know their keeper has made a mistake for the goal but I do not care how it has gone in. I am just pleased to get another three points. "We worked hard and it was a very hard-earned victory."

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