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.

Simply the Best

That's what Vale's youth team are at the moment having lifted the Midland Youth Cup last night for the second year running.

The Valiants defended their title with a 3-1 win over Rushden and Diamonds in front of a crowd of 656.

Goalkeeper Daniel Lloyd Weston pulled off a string of fine saves that kept Mark Grew's side in the game and Rushden can consider themselves extremely unlucky to be going home with runners up medals.

But Vale's international quality shone through with the likes of James Lawrie in the side who has a number of Northen Ireland under 21 caps under his belt and looks to have a promising future ahead of him.

However, the most disappointing news is that this cup winning side could well be dismantled as early as next week as the season draws to a close and contracts are handed out of hearts and dreams broken for another year.

But for now the group of youngsters can wallow in the success of being the best youth side in the Midlands.

Anyon Laid off

Vale suffered another defeat away at Chesterfield this weekend. Two goals from Jack Lester sealed their victory, while Vale pulled a goal back from on-loan Man City youngster Paul Marshall.

The talking point of the game however, will be the injury to Vale goalkeeper Joe Anyon who was stretchered from the field clasping a oxygen mask.

The 21 year-old has been thrust into the limelight since an injury to former keeper Mark Goodlad meant he had to retire.

Fans will be hoping the same thing doesn't happen to Joe as he looks to have a promising career ahead of him.

Money, Money, Money

While today's game is under when I thought I'd take this oppurtuinity to talk about one of the major events to come out of Vale Park this week.

There has been lots of speculation surrounding investors, three of which are said to be interested in the club and has prompted this article from the local paper.

With dwindling crowds already and the season isn't yet over, the club need to provide some sort of incentive to attract the crowds backnext season as I'm sure this is one both the fans and club will want to forget in a hurry.

If season ticket prices don't match that of the fans then don't be surprised if more protests are organised and a scalding interview is released by some big shot at the club.

Glad all over

Well who'd have thought

We'd have managed a win over Bradford last week. That was a shock one I can tell you, wish I'd made the effort to go now but thought against it after the Accrington game.

Kevin Gall has gone back to Carlisle not sure why to be quite honest, maybe somebody can fill me in. But there is talk of having a former old boy back in Paul Harsley, maybe we can have a word when we go to play Chesterfield on Saturday.

What is it about all these former players? We know Peter Jackson likes getting the old boys in, but it doesn't work Peter, just look at the situation we are in now with old players as managers, hardly up for promotion are we.

I seem to have set the trend with my exclusive the fans sites are now rife with rumours and people meeting up with more privileged ones for all the goss. Form a queue I was first.

Chesterfield this weekend, started well but have fallen by the wayside just lately. Similar to us, but we didn't have the successful start to be honest.

Normal service has been resumed

Just as we were all looking slightly hopeful. Rob Taylor's back in the side, we have a good win where we score than one or two gaols adn then we go and stuff it all up at Accrington. Must have been that sloping pitch eh?

Thankfully I didn't make the trip this time, learnt the lessons when we were thinking about going and it got called off at 7 due to a water-logged pitch.

It was described as one of the worst performances in 30 years. There's been a few of them just lately, we could make a DVD and get the club shop to sell it. It'll be a collectors item.

We need points on the board as quick as possible over the next few weeks, we can't keep relyig on Chester and Grimsby to stuff it all up. We need pull our own fingers out.

Glad all over

Back again

Well there have been a few developements on here over the last week.

I couldn't have predicted the response I had after publishing the first two parts of an interview with former employee Steve Joesbury, if you can call him an employee, they weren't paying him for a lot of the time.

Anyway, I've been relieved of my official duties at the club, because apparently they can't have people working for them writing that sort of thing.
Well 1. I don't work for them 2.I never got paid for anything I did it was all voluntary 3. Should they have people at the club sending me messages saying i'm a nasty and destructive person. No I think not.

But have had a number of people offering me other projects for which I am truly thankful - just to keep my writing ticking over at this crucial time.

Amazingly we managed to pick up a win over Darlington on Saturday, don't ask me how. I actually wanted us to lose so we could have a protest with me at the fore front after the last week, which seems to have felt like a year.

See what happens when you put Rob Taylor in, we win convincingly, he scores, gets Man of the Match what more could Deano want?

Rob Taylor player of the year everybody

Glad all over