What Phil Taylor said about sealing a Port Vale takeover - could it happen? | OneFootball

Football League World take a look at what Phil Taylor said about sealing a Port Vale takeover and whether it is a realistic prospect

Darts legend Phil Taylor has previously spoken on his desire to buy his hometown club Port Vale.

The 16-time world champion grew up just half a mile away from Vale Park and whilst not a huge supporter of the club, attended matches frequently throughout his youth.

Taylor is good friends with global pop star Robbie Williams, who has supported the Valiants throughout his life and even ran out for the side during Martin Foyle's testimonial in 2001.

The pair have been touted to take over the club in the past and add their names to the growing list of celebrity stakeholders in the EFL.

Phil Taylor’s verdict on Port Vale takeover

Speaking to OLBG, the darts icon wasn’t shy about his desire to take over Port Vale but would need to converse with Williams for anything concrete to develop.

“Well, I was asked that by talkSPORT because me and Robbie are good friends,” explained Taylor. “And his dad is like my second dad, Peter is. talkSPORT mentioned that Robbie was interested in investing into Port Vale and if he does would you be interested? I said well, yeah I think so, but we’d have to see what it is and how much they want and stuff like that."

"But I’ve heard nothing from Robbie. So, no I think it’s just a rumour. I’d have to converse with Robbie. It’s up high in the sky at the minute so I’m not going to go too deep into it because it may not happen.

When questioned about what his ultimate ambition would be if he took over the club, Taylor chose to aim high and shoot for the top-flight of English football.

The 64-year-old continued: “Get them to the Premier League! I don’t know in all seriousness to be honest with you, I haven’t got a clue. I’d probably give Barry Hearn a ring and ask his advice.

"You know, Barry was my ex-manager and because he owned Leyton Orient, he knows a lot more about running a football club than I do, so I’d ask him for a bit of advice.

"I am a Port Vale fan. Yeah, I used to live about half a mile from the ground. My dad used to lift me over the turnstile, because we didn’t have enough money to get in. They didn’t mind in them days when a few kids just jumping over."

Taylor could take over Port Vale with a serious proposal

The Staffordshire side have been owned by business person Carol Shanahan since 2019, and the 67-year-old has done a fine job during her time in charge.

However, with the number of clubs getting bankrolled with celebrities involved in the EFL growing rapidly, involvement from Taylor could take Port Vale to the next level.

The former darts star probably wouldn’t have the financial might to take over the club himself, but if he convinced Williams to get involved it could become a much more realistic prospect.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, the popstar has a net worth of $300 million and could use his global profile to attract further investment from elsewhere.

Shanahan bought the Valiants from former owners Smurthwaite for a reported fee of more than £5 million.

Therefore, if Williams and Co. could help guarantee Taylor with significant financial backing, the local lads would be able to put forward a serious proposal to take over their boyhood club.

That said, they would need to make sure their revenue streams were sustainable and therefore a suitable long-term option for Port Vale. If Taylor did pull this off, it would certainly raise the club’s profile and inject huge excitement into Vale Park.

The Valiants finished second in League Two last term as they secured promotion straight back to the third-tier, recording 80 points under boss Darren Moore.

The Staffordshire outfit will aim to put up a stronger survival fight than they did in the 2023/24 campaign, when they finished 23rd and were relegated.