Port Vale must avoid repeat of David Flitcroft blunders: View | OneFootball

Port Vale will be hoping to bounce back to League One at the first time of asking next season but must avoid repeating the loan signing mistakes made by former director of football David Flitcroft if they want to achieve long-term success.

Flitcroft's repeated errors when signing players for the Valiants eventually saw him lose his job in March this year, with supporters irate at his mishandling of both incomings and outgoings.

But it was his over-reliance on loan signings that proved to Vale's undoing, with the vast majority either not good enough or struggling with major injury problems, and the good ones being recalled by their clubs at the first opportunity.

Arblaster and Devine success cut short

The signings of Ollie Arblaster from Sheffield United and Alfie Devine from Tottenham Hotspur were definite successes, but Arblaster's form in particular in the centre of midfield meant it was always likely he could be recalled.

Flitcroft's failure to ensure the pair stayed throughout the season was then underpinned by the lack of suitable replacements. He went to the loan market again and recruited Jensen Weir, but he had struggled for game time at Blackpool and couldn't realistically have been expected to be a like-for-like replacement for Arblaster.

Flitcroft also attempted to bolster the defence. He signed Kofi Balmer on loan from Crystal Palace at the start of the season but the Northern Ireland under-21 international never looked up to the required standard. He too was recalled by his parent club in January before being shipped back out on loan to AFC Wimbledon in League Two.

In addition, Welsh under-21 international Josh Thomas was also recalled after failing to break into the team despite some impressive cameos, returning to Swansea City.

January loan signings all fail to impress

As well as Weir, Flitcroft bought in Dan Gore from Manchester United - to replace Devine - Alex Mighten from Nottingham Forest, and Kacper Łopata from Barnsley, all on loan.

The club also signed Rhys Williams, a central defender with Premier League experience, from Liverpool. However, a cursory check of Wikipedia told any fan that he had been injured all season whilst on loan at Aberdeen. Williams returned to Liverpool within a few weeks without even kicking a ball in anger.

Gore also picked up an injury in his first game that ruled him out for the rest of the campaign, while Mighten and Łopata only made fleeting appearances, mainly from the bench.

Permanent signings are a must if Vale are to progress

With Flitcroft now gone, the responsibility falls squarely on boss Darren Moore to ensure he makes the right signings as he looks to propel Vale to a promotion at the first time of asking.

Loan signings may prove harder to attract to League Two but the constant carousel of incomings and recalls only helped to derail Port Vale last season.

If they are serious about a promotion push they must endeavour to attract players on a permanent basis and ensure there is no repeat of last season's disruption.

The appointment of Moore was a showing of ambition from the Vale ownership but they must now back that up by giving him the proper tools to succeed in the upcoming transfer window.