Exclusive: Jon Brady in advanced talks to be new Port Vale manager
Jon Brady is in advanced talks to be the new Port Vale manager, sources have told Football Insider.
League One strugglers Port Vale are searching for a new manager following the sacking of Darren Moore at the end of last month.
Ex-Northampton Town boss Brady is now the clear favourite to take charge of the third-tier side as they look to mount a bid for survival.
Port Vale are keen to make a quick appointment, and talks with Brady are progressing well. They hope he could be in the dugout in time for Friday’s FA Cup clash with Fleetwood.
The 50-year-old boasts a wealth of experience having enjoyed four successful years at Northampton before stepping down in December 2024.
The Australian guided the Cobblers to promotion from League Two in 2022-23 before leading the club to their highest League One finish since 2008 in the 2023-24 campaign.
Jon Brady’s managerial record in League One
Moore had been under serious pressure at Port Vale for several weeks in the lead-up to his eventual dismissal, with rooted to the foot of the League One table.
Prior to their unexpected 5-1 win over Blackpool on New Year’s Day, the Valiants hadn’t tasted victory in league action since the end of September, and that run has left them nine points adrift of safety in the early stages of January.
However, with a new appointment now firmly in the pipeline, the Midlands outfit can begin to work towards opening up a new era at Vale Park.
| League | Games | W | D | L | Win % |
| League One | 84 | 26 | 21 | 37 | 30.95% |
| League Two | 92 | 46 | 25 | 21 | 50% |
Brady is not a name who boasts an extensive managerial CV, but his record in the third tier from his time at Northampton cannot be sniffed at, given that his team were far from being one of the division’s big hitters.
The 50-year-old has a win percentage of just shy of 31 per cent across his managerial career in League One, while that extends to an impressive 50 per cent in the fourth tier.
FA Cup clash to provide ideal grounding for Brady
Brady must oversee a huge turnaround at Port Vale if they are to have any chance of preserving their League One status for next term, and the timing of his potential appointment could provide the ideal grounding for him.
If Vale can get the appointment finalised before the clash with Fleetwood on 9 January, then the first assignment for the new boss would be an inviting FA Cup clash against a team from a lower league on home turf.
That is then followed up by a Vertu Trophy game against Bolton, and while both knockout ties will have an element of pressure riding on them, the fact that there are no league points up for grabs will provide Brady with the chance to experiment and get to know his new squad.
By the time the first league clash comes around against Mansfield Town on 17 January, he should have his feet firmly under the table in his new job.