John Brady: Port Vale have appointed the former Northampton Town boss as their new manager

Brady spent three and a half years with the Cobblers, making 200 appearances, and secured promotion to League One after finishing third in League Two in the 2022-23 season.

He arrived at Burslem in similar circumstances to when he took caretaker charge at Sixfields in February 2021 when Northampton were sitting in the relegation zone in League One.

Although he couldn’t keep them that season, his track record of getting the club back there – and keeping them there – won over the Vale hierarchy, given the Valiants’ perilous position at the moment.

Hancock added that Brady is “someone who we believe can make a real difference here in the short and long term” and said the new coach has “our full support as we focus on achieving our goals this season.”

Brady inherits a Vale side that ended a 12-game winless run in the league in stunning fashion by beating rivals Blackpool 5-1 on New Year’s Day.

This was the team’s first win in the league since September 27, after it started the season strong after rising last season to second place in the league, but its results declined badly.

Brady will be in charge for the first time in Friday’s FA Cup third round tie against Fleetwood Town [19:30 GMT].