Experienced central midfielder Michael Brown has emerged as the odds-on favourite to become the new manager of Port Vale. The 39-year-old, who is a player at the club and was offered a new contract recently, has been given more coaching responsibilities over the past year.
Brown was recently added to the first-team coaching staff and the Stoke Sentinel understands that he was also given the task of assisting chairman Norman Smurthwaite in finding a replacement for Rob Page. It looks as though he has nominated himself!
Although Brown has no managerial experience to call upon to date, but he has expressed a keenness to move into management one day. With Page surprising some by making the move to Northampton Town earlier this week, perhaps now is the perfect time for Brown to step into the fold.
Although Brown was offered a new contract when Port Vale released their retained list a week ago, he will celebrate his 40th birthday during next season and was likely to have had more of an emphasis on coaching for the coming season, with him only acting as cover from a playing perspective.
The combative midfielder can count upon clubs such as Sheffield United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United amongst his former clubs in an eventful 20-year playing career.
Other names briefly linked to the vacancy include ex-Sheff Utd boss Nigel Adkins, former manager Micky Adams and Sean O’Driscoll, who had a brief spell at Walsall earlier this year.
