League Two preview: Port Vale

Tom Pope
Forward Tom Pope has vowed to add goals to his hard-working all-round game this year. Photo: PA

Manager: Micky Adams

Position last season: 12th

Nickname: The Valiants

Ground: Vale Park

Capacity: 19,052

Players in: Darren Murphy (Stevenage, free), Jennison Myrie-Williams (Stevenage, free), Ashley Vincent (Colchester, free), Richard Duffy (Exeter, free), Chris Neal (Shrewsbury, free), David Artell (Crewe, free)

Players out: Lee Collins (Barnsley, undisclosed), Anthony Griffith (Leyton Orient, undisclosed), Sean Rigg (Oxford, free), Marc Richards (Chesterfield, free), Chris Martin, Phil Roe and Paul Marshall (all released)

Key man: Tom Pope

Chances: A slump into administration ended Vale's play-off ambitions last term and, although ownership issues have not been fully resolved, a brighter off-field picture means Adams should be free to craft an unhindered assault on the top seven once again.