:00:03. > :00:05.The cold wind of football reality blows through the Midlands. One
:00:05. > :00:15.club is on the verge of administration and another sacks
:00:15. > :00:23.
:00:23. > :00:26.its manager. Welcome to Late Kick Grim days for Port Vale. Players,
:00:26. > :00:36.staff and suppliers go unpaid - administration seems inevitable The
:00:36. > :00:36.
:00:36. > :00:40.club's former chief executive talks exclusively to Late Kick Off.
:00:40. > :00:44.position port Vale are in is not about the last six months, it's
:00:44. > :00:46.been a number of years coming. Hereford call time on Jamie Pitman
:00:46. > :00:49.but after a meeting with his chairman, Paul Peschisolido remains
:00:49. > :00:52.the manager of Burton. And is there no end to the talent
:00:52. > :00:59.of Leicester's Neil Danns? Midfield dynamo, fashion designer, musician
:00:59. > :01:04.and now inventor. I realised football doesn't last
:01:04. > :01:07.for ever and I have other ambitions in life.
:01:07. > :01:11.And I'm joined in the studio tonight by a pair of central
:01:11. > :01:14.defenders with some midfield creativity. Gareth Owen is a
:01:15. > :01:17.defender and coach at Port Vale and is one of the many members of staff
:01:17. > :01:21.who haven't been paid. Ian Taylor began his professional career with
:01:21. > :01:24.Vale and went on to star for Aston Villa and Derby. And Darren Moore
:01:24. > :01:28.has recently left Burton Albion the latest stop in a near 20 year
:01:28. > :01:31.professional career. Gentlemen, welcome. We start this evening at
:01:31. > :01:33.Port Vale, a club facing administration and a ten point
:01:33. > :01:37.deduction which will almost certainly end their hopes of
:01:37. > :01:40.promotion. On Saturday, Vale were at Accrington, a club which is no
:01:41. > :01:44.stranger to financial problems. At one point, they went out of
:01:44. > :01:54.business altogether. For Late Kick Off, Laura May McMullan travelled
:01:54. > :02:10.
:02:10. > :02:18.We need people's help, we need people to buy S. It is getting. And
:02:18. > :02:24.really all we can do is get behind the team. He's done a cracking job
:02:24. > :02:30.with no money, broken promises. inevitable outcome his
:02:30. > :02:38.administration. I am not privy to the details but it is inevitable.
:02:38. > :02:45.That means a 10 points deduction. We are looking at securing enough
:02:45. > :02:48.points to avoid relegation. Sadly there's no pot of gold at the end
:02:48. > :02:50.of the rainbow. Despite Port Vale's boardroom turmoil more than 700
:02:50. > :02:53.Vale fans packed through the turnstiles at Accrington on
:02:53. > :03:03.Saturday all It was the news everyone was dreading but perhaps
:03:03. > :03:08.
:03:08. > :03:13.Last week the club was served with a winding up order, administration
:03:13. > :03:18.looks set to happen this week. Last Thursday staff still turned up to
:03:18. > :03:22.work despite not being paid. The manager told me how hard it was for
:03:22. > :03:31.him to have to tell his players they wouldn't be getting any wages
:03:31. > :03:38.this month. The club has handled it poorly, two hours before they were
:03:38. > :03:43.due to get paid. No notice. And the players rely on them money, I am
:03:44. > :03:46.sure. Disappointing. Ahead of Saturday's game he actually told
:03:46. > :03:49.the squad they were excused from duty, for financial and emotional
:03:49. > :03:59.reasons. Every one of them, bar captain Marc Richards who was ill
:03:59. > :04:01.
:04:01. > :04:07.And perhaps a poignant place to come. It's actually 50 years ago
:04:07. > :04:10.this week that Accrington ceased to exist. Then, having been re-formed,
:04:10. > :04:13.they were just hours from Administration in 2009. It's going
:04:13. > :04:21.to be a tough time for Port Vale over the next few weeks, but
:04:21. > :04:24.perhaps Stanley's story can give them hope. Port Vale's financial
:04:24. > :04:29.problems meant Micky Adams could only name 4 substitutes instead of
:04:29. > :04:32.5. The club couldn't afford to pay anymore expenses. But the team's
:04:32. > :04:39.spirit shone through. They're unbeaten in seven games and at the
:04:39. > :04:41.moment, on the brink of the playoffs. It ended with a 2-2 draw
:04:41. > :04:51.and a usually very passionate manager understandably looked like
:04:51. > :04:55.
:04:55. > :05:04.he had a lot on his mind. You seemed subdued out there today.
:05:04. > :05:10.am a bit flat. Yes... It's an anti- climax today. After the fury of the
:05:10. > :05:14.week. I've a lot on my mind. Passions were running high at a
:05:14. > :05:24.supporters meeting yesterday. Mike Lloyd, one of the club's directors
:05:24. > :05:25.
:05:25. > :05:32.turned up unannounced and was asked And I'll never forgive you for
:05:32. > :05:39.that! The supporters are angry about debts and their beloved club
:05:39. > :05:42.on the brink of administration. A hardship fund to help Port Vale's
:05:42. > :05:48.fight for survival has now been launched. The manager says he's not
:05:48. > :05:54.going anywhere. I have a group of players to look after, a staff a
:05:54. > :05:59.care -- I care deeply about, we are a family club, a small community.
:06:00. > :06:02.We all have to stick together. I am determined to see it through.
:06:03. > :06:05.who's to blame? Port Vale started this season in dire need of
:06:05. > :06:08.investment but a deal with an American company - Blue Sky
:06:08. > :06:10.International - worth a reported eight million pounds collapsed.
:06:10. > :06:15.Attempts to find alternative sources of investment since have
:06:15. > :06:24.failed. Laura has been speaking exclusively to Perry Deakin, who
:06:24. > :06:29.remains on the club's much-maligned board of directors. I don't think
:06:29. > :06:33.they are to blame. There are areas that have been made however when
:06:33. > :06:37.you start a financial year with zero in the bank and need to three-
:06:37. > :06:42.quarters of a million, you have a problem. That's the situation we
:06:42. > :06:47.are in. We have done reasonably well to get as far as we have
:06:47. > :06:51.considering we needed the cash last July. So, you don't take
:06:51. > :06:56.responsibility? We have to take responsibility, we are the
:06:57. > :07:01.directors. We would not want the club to be in this position so we
:07:01. > :07:06.take responsibility. There's no question about that. There are
:07:06. > :07:13.mitigating factors in terms of the reasons. Why did you feel the need
:07:13. > :07:21.to pay Peter Millar a salary of �100,000, a house, a car, flights
:07:21. > :07:26.to America, when it was an unpaid role? We didn't feel the need to
:07:26. > :07:32.pay him that package. He was paid because when negotiating the
:07:32. > :07:39.agreement with the American company, Peter Millar's position as chairman
:07:39. > :07:43.was part of the agreement. When the deal collapsed, clearly, the
:07:44. > :07:48.position changed. The board appointed Peter chairman for two
:07:48. > :07:52.months. But as to allow him the time to bring the investment in
:07:52. > :07:57.from other sources. When the investment income in from other
:07:57. > :08:02.sources, he stepped down. He was only in situ for two months. What
:08:02. > :08:09.you say to the players and staff who have not been paid? I haven't
:08:09. > :08:16.been paid, either. I am an employee. So, I had the same issues they do.
:08:16. > :08:20.It's an awful awful situation and I'm desperately sorry. What we are
:08:20. > :08:25.hoping is we get ourselves into a position where he weather takes the
:08:25. > :08:31.club on makes sure the staff are paid. -- the weather. It's an
:08:31. > :08:37.important part of the discussions. We you apologise? I am not sure
:08:37. > :08:42.what you want me to apologise for. To the fans, the players, the staff
:08:42. > :08:49.who have not been paid, the creditors who will lose thousands.
:08:49. > :08:53.A lot of people would like an apology. As I say, the position
:08:53. > :08:59.port Vale are in currently is not about the last six months. It's
:08:59. > :09:04.been in number of years coming. it has added to it. It is key.
:09:04. > :09:09.Absolutely. We have established the directors hold their hands up and
:09:09. > :09:18.have made errors but so have many people. They have a lot to answer
:09:18. > :09:23.for. In terms of the position of the club. So, I will ask you again,
:09:23. > :09:33.will he apologise? I am desperately sorry the club is in a position it
:09:33. > :09:35.
:09:35. > :09:40.is in. As our the other directors. We need constantly. We have been
:09:40. > :09:47.discussing how to resolve it. There's no question we made errors.
:09:47. > :09:54.Gareth, you are a senior player at Port Vale. What is it like to be at
:09:54. > :10:01.the club? Totally difficult. There are worried people around.
:10:01. > :10:10.Uncertainty is growing day by day. We cannot plan for anything.
:10:10. > :10:15.Culminating in not being paid. It is difficult to take as players. To
:10:15. > :10:18.not have anything is hard to take. There is a view from outside the
:10:18. > :10:24.borders get paid loads of money no matter which lead you are in. How
:10:24. > :10:30.tough is it. Some lads have been told not to come in because they
:10:30. > :10:35.cannot put petrol in the cars. Footballers get paid but when
:10:35. > :10:39.you're 18 or 19 not earning much money, why you saving? Not many
:10:39. > :10:45.people do. They cannot make it a training and that hinders their
:10:45. > :10:50.careers. Players must take a huge interest now because it takes a
:10:50. > :10:54.massive effect on their lives. Sorting a direct debits to make
:10:54. > :10:59.sure money is in the bank. They are not concentrating on playing and
:10:59. > :11:06.training. It takes up a lot of life. You're mentally drained going into
:11:06. > :11:13.training. That cannot be good. is a far cry from when you were at
:11:13. > :11:17.the club 20 years ago. What do you make of it? It is a disgrace. I
:11:17. > :11:23.think the people in charge of the money dealings at Port Vale have a
:11:23. > :11:27.lot to answer for. A lot of these guys, like you say, they are not on
:11:27. > :11:33.a great deal of money. It is a myth people think all footballers are a
:11:33. > :11:38.great many. These guys depend on them money like everyone else. It's
:11:38. > :11:43.a disgrace this has happened to such a great club. I had two
:11:43. > :11:47.fantastic years at Port Vale. It hurts. It is sad because we have
:11:47. > :11:53.seen a lot of clubs sailing close to the wind. This could happen to
:11:53. > :11:57.any club. Yes, and the biggest thing they must be careful of is
:11:57. > :12:01.they cannot fulfil financial payments to the players and then
:12:01. > :12:07.players look elsewhere and clubs come in and cherry-pick the better
:12:07. > :12:12.players. Let's hope we keep the whole squad together because in the
:12:12. > :12:16.next few weeks you're talking about clubs picking players from the Vale
:12:16. > :12:22.for their own. With the administration which now looks
:12:22. > :12:26.inevitable, how demoralising is that? It is hard to take. If you're
:12:26. > :12:33.not good enough because the results are not good enough, you hold your
:12:33. > :12:38.heads up but for all the efforts to be derailed by some poor financial
:12:38. > :12:47.decisions as players, it is hard to take. I wish you all the best.
:12:47. > :12:52.Still to come on tonight's Late Kick Off. This is Natalie, I am a
:12:52. > :12:58.virgin on this recording my first message. Monday on BBC One. Do not
:12:58. > :13:02.Hereford United have been flirting with danger at the bottom of League
:13:02. > :13:05.Two all season long and this morning Jamie Pitman paid the price.
:13:05. > :13:07.He was relieved of his managerial duties and will be replaced by the
:13:07. > :13:11.Walsall coach Richard O'Kelly, though Pitman will remain on the
:13:11. > :13:21.club's coaching staff. And this despite Hereford winning on
:13:21. > :13:22.
:13:22. > :13:28.Saturday. Jamie Pitman was on borrowed time
:13:28. > :13:38.when he prepared his players for Saturday's's match. Two goals in
:13:38. > :13:45.
:13:45. > :13:48.the first have. The first by a Lyle Taylor. A second-half goal from
:13:48. > :13:50.Jack Midson would not have helped Pitman's nerves either. The
:13:50. > :13:53.celebrations at the final whistle have proved to be shortlived for
:13:53. > :13:59.Jamie Pitman. This morning, the Walsall coach Richard O'Kelly was
:13:59. > :14:06.given the task of ensuring Hereford's survival. It is a big
:14:06. > :14:10.task. What pleases me seeing the players this morning, how they were
:14:10. > :14:15.motivated and engaged in the process of what is happening,
:14:15. > :14:19.whether it was me or Jamie working. That was good to see. If you have
:14:19. > :14:22.that sort of commitment, you have a better chance.
:14:22. > :14:25.Burton's home defeat against Southend made it 11 games without a
:14:25. > :14:28.win. David Martin's free kick was followed by a goal for veteran
:14:28. > :14:35.striker Neil Harris. Burton, fourth at Christmas, are now 15th and
:14:35. > :14:45.these are challenging times for the club's manager. People think I am
:14:45. > :14:51.an absolute moron if I keep blaming luck. His 11 games now. -- did his
:14:51. > :14:54.11 games. We are blaming things not going our way. We have to stand up
:14:54. > :14:59.and be counted. I will not criticise the effort. I think it
:14:59. > :15:01.was there. I do not know what it is, to be honest.
:15:01. > :15:11.At the top, Cheltenham were surprisingly held 2-2 by bottom
:15:11. > :15:13.
:15:13. > :15:23.club Northampton but it could have been much worse. It's gone in. And
:15:23. > :15:32.
:15:32. > :15:42.he scores. Great penalty.. Col! Shrewsbury were held at Crewe
:15:42. > :15:57.
:15:57. > :16:06.despite taking the lead in bizarre Let us talk about the managerial
:16:06. > :16:12.change. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Graham Turner is a tough act
:16:12. > :16:19.to follow. Are we surprised that the experiment hasn't worked?
:16:19. > :16:25.really. It was always going to be a tough task. The players, they will
:16:25. > :16:28.like him. They like most physios. Physios get on with the players. To
:16:28. > :16:36.make their transformation from physio to manager is always going
:16:36. > :16:44.to be tough. Richard O'Kelly, who has not bomb he was under Graham
:16:44. > :16:53.Turner. He has a 12 games. That is quite a task. He has got to hit the
:16:53. > :17:01.ground running. It could happen, a fresh-faced, fresh ideas.
:17:01. > :17:05.leeway? He has a great tactical awareness in the game and his
:17:05. > :17:12.training methods are excellent. The players will enjoy the training
:17:12. > :17:18.methods. It is a shame for Jamie. He is a likeable character. As for
:17:18. > :17:22.your old club, person, Paul Peschisolido has been given the
:17:22. > :17:30.vote of confidence. Are you surprised? Far absolutely. I can
:17:30. > :17:39.speak from watching Burton Albion Club, Paul Peschisolido is a great
:17:39. > :17:49.man. He has great contacts. I have worked closely with him and the
:17:49. > :17:49.
:17:49. > :17:53.players know he can be an asset. He has vast experience. I have played
:17:53. > :17:58.20 years in the game and worked with some wonderful coaches. I
:17:58. > :18:06.would put him in the top three. Hopefully, they can work through
:18:06. > :18:12.this difficult period. It is a young management team. They have
:18:12. > :18:15.done well at Burton and it is just trying to pursue to the end of the
:18:15. > :18:18.season. Now to League One and Notts County
:18:18. > :18:25.are up into the top six as new manager Keith Curle's faultless
:18:25. > :18:35.start continues. Four games, four wins, no goals
:18:35. > :18:37.
:18:37. > :18:47.conceded - not a bad start as Notts manager for Keith Curle.
:18:47. > :18:52.
:18:52. > :18:56.Brilliant header. Great header into the far corner. Four man ball. You
:18:56. > :18:57.will not see better. Walsall are back in the bottom four
:18:57. > :19:06.Walsall are back in the bottom four despite stretching their unbeaten
:19:06. > :19:10.run to four games at Leyton Orient. The ball is inside the penalty area.
:19:10. > :19:16.Here is Cox. They take the lead. The Saddlers chances improved when
:19:16. > :19:21.the Orient subsitute Solomon Taiwo was sent off after 38 minutes.
:19:21. > :19:31.Corner comes in from that right hand side. We keeper has lost it.
:19:31. > :19:31.
:19:31. > :19:35.It is in. The Saddlers make their There is plenty to discuss on and
:19:35. > :19:38.off the field across the Midlands at the minute and we would love to
:19:38. > :19:41.hear from you here on Late Kick Off. As always, we are open for business
:19:41. > :19:45.seven days a week on Facebook, and you can als continue the
:19:45. > :19:48.conversation right now on Twitter by using the hashtag...
:19:48. > :19:51.We think we have found the most entrepreneurial player in the
:19:51. > :19:54.Football League. The Leicester City midfielder Neil Danns is a man with
:19:54. > :20:04.several careers. As Natalie found out, his latest venture has got
:20:04. > :20:07.
:20:07. > :20:13.everybody talking. If Neil Danns went on Dragon's den,
:20:13. > :20:21.he would be a big hit. I am a big thinker. I literally never stop
:20:21. > :20:25.thinking. I have learned from many mistakes. That have led me to this.
:20:25. > :20:33.The midfielder is a fashion designer, inventor and musician. He
:20:33. > :20:40.has already released a single. well-documented in the music side.
:20:40. > :20:48.I play guitar. While working on a in album which I will put out there.
:20:48. > :20:55.-- I am working. Now his latest development could change the face
:20:55. > :21:01.of social networking. I was just lying in bed and thinking and then
:21:01. > :21:06.I came up with this idea of social networking. It is something along
:21:06. > :21:11.the lines of Twitter but with voice notes. People do not use text but
:21:11. > :21:21.they use their voice. If you want to follow your idols, you can hear
:21:21. > :21:27.them speaking in a 32nd voice note. Then I came up with this name. It
:21:27. > :21:37.is to do with the saying, just spit it out. Press the red button here.
:21:37. > :21:42.It starts to record. A physical. It -- as a fan, you want to know
:21:42. > :21:47.everything. -- it is fun. He is fully committed to making it a
:21:47. > :21:55.success. His work ethic on and off the pitch is down to his upbringing.
:21:55. > :22:03.I grew up in suburbia and a rough area in Liverpool. I feel I gave me
:22:03. > :22:09.a lot of the strong mentality. I like to get among people and graft.
:22:09. > :22:19.That comes from working -- from coming from a working-class family.
:22:19. > :22:20.
:22:20. > :22:25.His onto Purnell side is not about money. -- entrepreneurial. He is
:22:25. > :22:30.acutely aware that in football, investment brings expectation. You
:22:30. > :22:36.only have to look at the likes of Manchester City, it happened
:22:36. > :22:41.overnight for them. It is no different to Leicester City. The
:22:41. > :22:45.next couple of years will be vital for us. There will be a lot of
:22:45. > :22:50.teams not wanting us in the play- offs because they know it will be a
:22:50. > :22:56.tough task if we get in. He is now getting a good run in the team
:22:56. > :23:01.under Nigel Pearson. We have all warm to him straight away. The
:23:01. > :23:06.performance and results show that. If the fans want to voiced their
:23:06. > :23:11.opinions on his performance, they know where to go. I can get close
:23:11. > :23:18.to my favourite footballers. It is somewhere where you can express
:23:18. > :23:23.your opinion. Definitely. You can go into an apt and boys your
:23:23. > :23:32.opinion and leave it out there for everyone else. -- and voice your
:23:32. > :23:42.opinion. His team-mates are on board. People in the urban music
:23:42. > :23:48.scene are on board. I'm hoping it could be a big thing. Even low-key
:23:48. > :23:58.celebrities are signing up. this is Natalie. I am recording for
:23:58. > :23:58.
:23:58. > :24:01.Late Kick Off with Neil Danns. Welcome! Thank you.
:24:01. > :24:04.Well, there was no doubting Neil's application on Saturday, but he was
:24:04. > :24:07.left spitting feathers after missing a penalty. Leicester though
:24:07. > :24:17.still managed to beat struggling Coventry 2-0. It was the first time
:24:17. > :24:22.
:24:22. > :24:25.the Foxes had recorded back-to-back defender Bruno Berner who has
:24:25. > :24:28.announced his retirement from the game. Now a spectator, he watched
:24:28. > :24:38.as the Foxes recovered from Danns' early penalty miss to take a 12th-
:24:38. > :24:43.
:24:43. > :24:52.minute lead. Gets his cross in. David Nugent scores for Leicester.
:24:52. > :24:55.Finds Nugent. Goal! Coventry also missed a penalty late
:24:55. > :24:57.in the game but Leicester were comfortable winners and are now
:24:57. > :25:00.just seven points off the play-offs. Birmingham City's promotion hopes
:25:00. > :25:02.have suffered another setback. Erik Huseklepp's instinctive finish gave
:25:02. > :25:05.them an early lead against Derby and when loan-sgning Andros
:25:05. > :25:15.Townsend created a second goal for Marlon King after 57 minutes,
:25:15. > :25:16.
:25:16. > :25:20.another home win seemed assured. But within nine minutes, Derby were
:25:21. > :25:26.level. First Steven Davies converted a cross from his namesake
:25:26. > :25:31.Ben. And then Paul Green's precise pass picked out Theo Robinson. 2-2
:25:31. > :25:40.was the final score. A penalty for handball which was not awarded
:25:40. > :25:50.probably cost Nottingham Forest a victory at Barnsley. Abe run from
:25:50. > :25:52.
:25:52. > :26:02.the edge of the box. Forest are in front. Curls it in. That has got to
:26:02. > :26:04.
:26:04. > :26:08.be a handball. Craig Davies is 25 yards out. Into the corner. A
:26:08. > :26:18.forest post-mortem goes on immediately as to who should have
:26:18. > :26:21.
:26:21. > :26:28.Forest have one defeat in five. It is becoming a number of goals at
:26:28. > :26:33.the right time. Forest have had a terrible run. It is no coincidence
:26:33. > :26:40.they have a new coach and result serve picked up. I speak highly of
:26:40. > :26:44.his coaching methods. We saw Derby perform a terrific comeback against
:26:44. > :26:50.Birmingham. What a story from Steven Davis. His first start in
:26:50. > :26:55.four month. What a header. 10 a metal plates, 22 screws in his head.
:26:56. > :27:01.If you have to give him credit. Anybody would not blame it him if
:27:01. > :27:05.he had ducked away from the ball. To come back from an injury like
:27:05. > :27:12.that and to score on Saturday, it is excellent. Great character. With
:27:13. > :27:18.him in the team, Derby have a new dimension to the team. Well done to
:27:18. > :27:23.him. I think he has done a great job. The last couple of seasons, I
:27:23. > :27:28.looked at the team, and is not a team of big names. He has plucked
:27:28. > :27:37.them from all around. He has formed a team. He has done a great job.
:27:37. > :27:46.Leicester, three wins in four. The Newton partnership is starting to
:27:46. > :27:52.bear fruit. 13 goals in 10 games. With a strike force like that, you
:27:52. > :27:56.always have a chance for Nugent. Teams are looking over their
:27:56. > :28:00.shoulders because they are wanting, if they have a consistent run, to
:28:00. > :28:10.come through. They will be a difficult opponent should they get
:28:10. > :28:11.
:28:11. > :28:18.into the play-offs. Can they do it? Yes. He has plenty of time left.
:28:18. > :28:22.They could win all 10. How many times have you seen a team have
:28:22. > :28:28.come in late in the Championship. There are so many games, it can all
:28:28. > :28:33.change. They face another challenge for the transfer embargo. Chris has
:28:33. > :28:37.found a formula that despite all the pressures they have had, from
:28:37. > :28:43.the star of the season, they European exploits as well, the FA
:28:43. > :28:47.Cup run, they are still in a play- off position. Aim of games to go.
:28:47. > :28:49.That is it for this evening. All of our clubs are playing again
:28:49. > :28:53.tomorrow evening. Full coverage on your BBC local radio station. And