Port Vale supporters angry at the way owner Norman Smurthwaite is running the club have organised a protest march before Saturday’s home League Two fixture against Morecambe.
Port Vale Supporters’ Club has asked disillusioned fans to gather at Burslem Town Hall before marching on Vale Park where the protest will continue until 15 minutes before kick-off.
The protest organisers have cancelled plans for a red card protest inside the stadium due to the death of England goalkeeping legend and World Cup winner Gordon Banks. Banks will be remembered before the game with a minute’s applause and the Supporters’ Club did not want to disrespect his memory by continuing the protest inside the ground.
In a statement published on StokeonTrentLive the Supporters’ Club said: “At the last Supporters’ Club meeting, fans asked the committee to organise a peaceful protest against the running of the club by the owner.”
“We have seen none of the promised £400,000 investment, generated by the sale of Jordan Hugill, the Checkatrade cup run and TV revenue from the FA Cup match against Sunderland, in the team.”
“The last three years has seen Vale plunge down the football league, and once again we stand on the precipice of relegation to non-league football.”
Supporters’ Club Chairman Mark Porter told StokeonTrentLive that they were responding to fans requests for action “It was brought up at the Supporters’ Club meeting. I took a vote on it, and it was passed 100 per cent. In fact, the only person who didn’t vote was me because, as the chairman. I’m not allowed to.”
“It is happening because fans, from what they are telling us, aren’t happy.”
“There is the failed investment in January for example. We are staring relegation in the face and fans are venting their frustration this way.”
“Fans will show their frustration with how the club is run, and then go into the ground to support the team. The protest must be peaceful.”
The Valiants are currently twentieth in League Two four points above Morecambe who are twenty-second and one point above Macclesfield in the final relegation place.
Our View
Poor owners suck the lifeblood out of a club, and Vale fans are right to protest if they feel the ownership of Smurthwaite is lacking. It must stay peaceful, and the fans must remain behind the team to try and help secure three crucial points on Saturday.
Vale should have enough to stay up, and as they proved when they protested against the previous owners Valiant 2001, fan protest can be successful in influencing ownership change.
Vale fans love their club and are some of the most passionate supporters in the lower leagues and deserve to see their club run sensibly and sustainably.
Smurthwaite needs to go for the club to start building for the future.
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