Port Vale have sacked manager Darrell Clarke ahead of their Tuesday visit to Portman Road.

Vale are 18th in League One, six points off the drop zone having won only two of their last 18 matches.

At the weekend, the were defeated 3-2 at Lincoln City had had two players sent off, taking their tally of red cards to four in three games.

Clarke’s assistant, Andy Crosby, will take charge on an interim basis until the end of the season.

David Flitcroft, Port Vale’s director of football, told his club’s official website: “Firstly, it is important that we place on record our appreciation to Darrell for the role he has played in a successful chapter in the club’s history, culminating in last season’s promotion to League One via the play-offs [last season].

“We have been on an emotional journey together, during which time Carol, her family and all associated with Port Vale have provided unwavering support to Darrell throughout an unimaginably difficult period in his life.

“We have immense gratitude to him for his role in driving the club away from potential relegation from League Two to winning promotion to League One.

“However, following discussions in recent weeks with Darrell, the backroom staff and senior players, we have decided now is the best time to make a change and give ourselves the best chance of retaining the League One status we have all worked so tirelessly to achieve since the Shanahan family purchased the club in 2019.

“We must now work together as a staff and supporters to help Andy Crosby and the players to secure the points required to allow us to build on the foundations we have laid and continue our progression this summer.”

Vale co-owner and chair Carol Shanahan OBE added: “Collectively, this has not been an easy decision to make, and given the close relationship we have developed during the past two years, it is difficult to part ways with Darrell professionally.

“We always wish to give our manager ample opportunity to deliver results, though at this stage we now agree it is in the club’s best immediate and long-term interests to make a change.

“We — staff, players and supporters — must now work together over the next three weeks to do everything we can to positively influence the team on the pitch and retain our League One status.

“We know a detailed review of the last few months is required to understand where mistakes have been made and we will commence this at the conclusion of this season. Now, though, is the time to come together and all play our part in the final four fixtures of the campaign.

“We wish Darrell well in his future career and he and his family will always be welcome here at Vale Park.”

Photo: Action Images

VanDusen added 09:37 - Apr 17 Rash. Objectively anyone outside looking in would say he's done a cracking job there, and even given recent form they're not in serious danger of relegation. Hopefully they're at sixes and sevens off the back of it.
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cookra added 09:42 - Apr 17 if this was Lambert era id say watch us go lose 0-1 but with McKenna and the team now I'm going higher than Charlton 8-0
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MickMillsTash added 09:54 - Apr 17 Cookra- Agreed Fortunately there is now someone in charge who knows exactly what we need They gave us a decent game at Vale Park, got men into the box and put good crosses in. We are a different team now, early goal, 3 points and Please NO INJURIES leading into the MEGA WEEKENDER, I'm getting pretty excited about these 2 away trips.
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Len_Brennan added 10:12 - Apr 17 It would have been better for us had he not been sacked, given the run they've been on, but if we are not fearing Bolton & Derby away, we shouldn't be too concerned by who the manager of Port Vale is. We may need to be patient though, as the caretaker will certainly set them up to play very defensively & to frustrate; he won't be wanting his first game in charge to be a 6-0 thrashing, so from that perspective the change is likely to have some effect on the early part of the game at least.

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blues1 added 10:13 - Apr 17 Don't often feel any sympathy for a football manager getting sacked but in this case,I do. Feels like another club who think they are bigger than they actually are and have some divine right to succeed. They're in no real danger of going down and he has done a terrific job for them, saving them from going put of the football league and getting promotion to lge1. And got them playing a good brand of football in the process. The away game was arguably ly one if the hardest away games we've had this season. And tomorrow night wont be easy neither. No doubt they will come here and put 11 men behind the ball, and make it hard for us, so an early goal would be great. If not, we need to be patient in our play and not try to force it. And we fans also need to be patient and get behind them, as on Saturday. And nomoaning and groaning

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blues1 added 10:13 - Apr 17 Should things not go our way right away
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Europablue added 10:19 - Apr 17 In general, the better-funded teams (like ours) will have a stronger end to the season, especially if they have strengthened in the January window. For the smaller clubs, the injuries and fatigue start to bite and it's difficult to keep up the same standards especially when you are playing teams like ours who have become a much tougher prospect than in the first meeting between the two clubs.

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Paddy39 added 10:21 - Apr 17 They sacked their boss hoping for a reaction from the team. Hopefully even with their reaction we would still be too much for them.
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Bramidan added 10:55 - Apr 17 Their season is finished so they will only be playing for pride. Cant see them coming to play open football. Our normal possession football should starve them of the ball. Let's hope we get an early goal and they are demoralised.
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greenkingtone added 10:56 - Apr 17 In the 50s I supported Newport County, known locally as "The Neddies" Playing Port Vale was a always a pain. Thjey were known as ther "offside experts" of the old 3rd division and they usually beat us one nil. I know they are better than that now and another win should be a formality for us. Three nil would do.
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Gforce added 11:18 - Apr 17 Seems a very harsh decision to remove Clarke at this stage of the season. Over the past 12 months or more he's done a tremendous job for them and he must be feeling pretty aggrieved.Poor decision by the owners as let's face it, they probably only need one more win to be completely safe,which hopefully for them they'll achieve AFTER tomorrow .
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bobble added 11:27 - Apr 17 he is going to chelsea or everton it appears....
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Sharkey added 11:36 - Apr 17 Blues 1, I think this is really unfair:" Feels like another club who think they are bigger than they actually are and have some divine right to succeed." In the truncated Covid season, PV were in good form and in a strong position when the season ended prematurely. When other divisions were squabbling about what was fair in the circumstances, in League 2 Port Vale graciously stood aside and allowed other teams to claim the play-off places which they were well set to qualify for. The Colchester chairman made a great point of thanking both the Carlisle chairman, who was the rep for League 2 and the new Port Vale board, for their handling of things. There was absolutely NO sense of entitlement from Port Vale. ( You may remember how much Tranmere kicked and screamed at the time.)

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martin587 added 11:49 - Apr 17 A football managers job is usually short lived it comes with the territory.Shame but that's the way the cookie crumbles.
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ArnieM added 12:05 - Apr 17 Oh great , new (or pending new)manager surge in player performance Tuesday then. That's all we need .
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Westy added 12:10 - Apr 17 Strange given we are so close to the end of the season anyway. Is this something the Port Vale Board have done to avoid responsibility if they get walloped tomorrow night? Not that the game is by any means a given - the players will have to earn it.
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Monkey_Blue added 12:11 - Apr 17 What did Port Vale expect from this season? I've been to Vale Park as an away fan so I get they have been in the second tier but that was 99/20…. Seems to me that not getting relegated would be an achievement and to sack him at this point and replace him with a guy intrinsic to their form and performances is a little dim to say the least.
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dirtydingusmagee added 12:25 - Apr 17 our team should and will im sure not be thinking about P V situation, just pulling off another good performance to secure 3 points. i too expect Vale to park up but our ''samba'' play should get us through , IM NOT bold enough to predict a big score though.COYB
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hyperbrit added 12:46 - Apr 17 3-0 Town
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JewellintheTown added 13:08 - Apr 17 I feel the Town needs to thrash them now, just to prove they are now worse off without him.
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Jugsy added 13:15 - Apr 17 What a pointless decision. Darrell Clarke has done a great job for them in a short space of time. They, like many clubs in this division, suffer from the lack of resources and investment to keep them competitive all season. A step up in division needs time and consolidation - they will continue on the management merry-go-round with this sort of club leadership which will deliver no steps forward, at best.

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joyousblue added 13:22 - Apr 17 I think its a harsh descision , but to state there could be reaction is crazy talk , , 5 games they wish had gone , possibly looking even more foreward to thier holidays now , and if we score early that will be any incentive gone 7. O
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BlueWax added 13:37 - Apr 17 Get in Mickma.....sexy football and all that !
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jcolch1 added 13:52 - Apr 17 Does seem a bizarre decision so close to the end of the season, but I guess if they have made up their minds that he is going to go whatever then might as well cut the cord now, hope they stay up and get someone in before pre-season begins. Can't see it making our chances of beating them better or worse in any case.
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JimInGreensboro added 14:28 - Apr 17 I don't care how many they stack behind the ball. With 4 of their key players suspended and their manager sacked, they'll be rudderless. We'll score 3 on set pieces alone.
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