Port Vale

Port Vale chief scout Martin Foyle will rely on his eyes over data and statistics when it comes to recommending possible signings for the club.

Foyle scored 107 goals in 356 games for the club, managed them from 2004 to 2007 and was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in June.

He has previously filled recruitment roles at Northampton Town, Morecambe, St Mirren and Carlisle United. He told BBC Radio Stoke doing the job had changed over that time.

"A lot of it [now] is data driven which is something I didn't have a lot of at the previous three or four clubs - not that if affects anything because at the end of the day, scouting is about your eyes and your feel for a player and obviously if the club can afford to take them," the 63-year-old said.

"Social media has probably had the biggest affect on football, on managers and coaches, even players as well. It can be very tricky, there's a lot of lies out there and people get portrayed in different ways.

"That's the hardest thing to deal with - but as for the rest, going to games, meeting people, meeting agents who are connected with a lot of clubs... It's about trying to be open, honest and upfront, and tell it like it is.

"Contacts are huge - it is [about] who you know. I started about 10, 12 years ago with Chris Wilder and Alan Knill at Northampton - that was a baptism of what goes on. Recruitment is a completely different field and it's not as easy as people think."

Vale have signed a dozen players since relegation from League One last season.

They began the League Two campaign with a 2-0 loss at Oldham Athletic and next face back-to-back home games against Tranmere Rovers and Crewe Alexandra.

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Port Vale have signed striker Tyreece Simpson on a one-year deal.

Simpson, 24, was available on a free transfer after he left League One side Stevenage at the end of last season - and he has agreed to drop into League Two with the Valiants, who were relegated from the third tier in April.

St Kitts and Nevis international Simpson is an Ipswich Town academy product but has, since leaving Portman Road, had permanent spells with Huddersfield Town and Stevenage as well as loan spells at Swindon Town, Northampton Town and Colchester United.

He missed all of last term injured, having suffered a ruptured Achilles in pre-season, as Stevenage reached the League One play-offs and he was among seven senior players to leave the club at the end of their contracts.

Vale have made him their eighth signing of a busy summer, having already recruited Lewis Montsma, Jasper Moon, Max Watters, Aaron McGowan, Kyle Dempsey, Matthew Craig and Jackson Smith.

Remember, this is your Port Vale club page so bookmark it, or if you're on the BBC Sport app or signed in on a browser, hit 'Follow' to add it to your MySport and get more news - and also select the bell icon in the app to sign up for club notifications.

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Port Vale have continued their recruitment drive before the start of the new season with the signings of defenders Aaron McGowan and Lewis Montsma on one-year deals.

McGowan, 30, has been on trial at Vale Park following the end of his contract with Tranmere Rovers this summer.

He played under Vale boss Jon Brady at Northampton Town and helped the Cobblers win promotion to League One in the 2022-23 season.

Dutchman Montsma joins Vale following the expiration of his contract with Dundee this summer.

The 28-year-old started his senior career with Dordrecht in the Netherlands and moved to Lincoln City in July 2020.

He made 108 appearances for the Imps, scoring 11 goals, before joining Dundee on a six-month deal in February.

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Southend United have signed midfielder Rico Richards from Port Vale for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract, with a club option of a third year.

The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Walsall where he made just one start in League Two.

Richards was previously part of the Stockport County squad which won promotion to League One in 2023-24, making 11 league appearances.

"I watched [Kieron Dyer - Southend United head coach] in games while I was growing up, and he's very experienced on the pitch, so I'm sure he can teach me a few things," Richards told the Shrimpers' website., external

Port Vale boss Jon Brady joined BBC Radio Stoke's Valiants reporter Phil Bowers in the studio on Thursday evening to look ahead to the new League Two season.

In an hour-long special, Brady reflected on last term's relegation from League One, new signings and hopes for 2026-27.

If you missed any of it, you can watch it all by clicking the play button above.