The other side of the story.

The season is well under way for Port Vale but there is still a battle raging off the field.
Internet message boards are rife with alleged meetings with fans at the houses of club officials and various rumours over who has seen what documents related to the club.
While current and former employees argue over what investment opportunities have or haven’t materialised into something more permanent.

That former employee is Kevin Fitzgerald, who was sales manager at the club before moving to the same role at Stoke City but eventually moving on to pursues other business interests, selling property to footballers.
Through that avenue he came into contact with Harlequin Properties, who he introduced to the club and are now Port Vale’s shirt sponsors, and who one director described “the best sponsors the club has ever had.”

Since then rumours have flown around about more financial opportunities have been made available via Kevin Fitzgerald.
The two main deals that have been the centre of debate between the fans, the club and Kevin himself are Basement Jaax and Maplin.
Both deals were said to be non-existent following a statement on Port Vale’s official web-site. But now it’s time to hear the other side of the story.
Kevin said: “If I were just to deny what has been said nobody would believe me.”
However, in a statement Ronnie Wilson, manager of Vula Malinga who has featured on a number of Basement Jaax hits and is a renowned record producer and co-writer for former stars Eternal, Liberty X and Louise said: “I have known Kevin Fitzgerald since August 2008 in which we were introduced to each other through mutual associates the Selman Group.
“Discussions took place between myself and Kevin in regards to Basement Jaax sponsoring the back of Port Vale’s home shirts and shorts in which Kevin forwarded a proposal to me.”

Mock up photographs of a possible deal have appeared on one of Port Vale’s independent web-sites Portvaleonline to show what a shirt could look like bearing the Basement Jaax log, which Kevin claims was mocked up by the club so that Basement Jaax’s management team could get a feel of what a sponsorship deal could look like. But it was never a concrete deal. Ronnie adds:” Discussions took place between myself and Kevin in regards to Basement Jaax potentially playing a concert at Port Vale in June 2010. This is in Kevin’s hands to get a proposal together.”
However, Ronnie also is keen to say the following: “I must stress that no sponsorship deal or concert had been agreed due to the fact Basement Jaax were on a world tour. I could not speak to Andrew Monsi until they returned, by which time the club had spoken to him first.”

While Davy Hill, Business to Business team leader for Maplin Electronics said in an e-mail “Paul Bennett approached Maplin with a sponsorship proposal for Port Vale FC. Maplin decided not to proceed further with the proposal as the time is not right for the company to undertake this type of marketing. “
Kevin explains his relationship with Paul Bennett. He said: “I have known Paul Bennett for a couple of years via a sponsor at Port Vale but got to know him even better when his telecoms company became a major sponsor at my time with Stoke City.
“I have spoken to Paul about many opportunities that could possibly be introduced to Port Vale via Paul’s contacts with Maplin Electronics
being one of them, I must stress that at no point did I ever say that the Maplin Electronics deal was done which has been indicated on the Port Vale official website.”

Kevin is extremely happy to have some of his work recognised by the club also. He said: “I am also happy now that the club have now acknowledged through the Staffordshire Sentinel that they are in talks with my contacts, regeneration experts the Selman Group which will benefit the club hugely.”

While Kevin is also pleased to have his version of events heard. He added: “I am also happy now that following on from the official statement on the clubs website that my side of the story has now been heard and hopefully put the bed the two stories trying to slur my name.”
He added: “it’s also good to quash the suggestions that both organisations have not been approached to sponsor Port Vale or even heard of me.”

So both sides of the argument have now been presented. It’s time for the fans to make their minds up.