Jon Brady issues a message to Port Vale fans after becoming the club’s new manager, coming in as replacement for Darren Moore.
The 50 year old signs on an initial 18-month contract, and will take charge for the upcoming FA Cup tie against Fleetwood Town.
In his message to supporters, Brady expressed honour at joining the “special” club, acknowledging the challenge of being bottom of the League One table, and called for unity among staff, players, and fans to achieve survival.
He promised an aggressive, fearless, hard-working style on the pitch, urging fans to create a hostile atmosphere at Vale Park, and vowed to give everything to succeed, emphasising values of community and morals.
We are delighted to confirm that Jon Brady has been appointed as the club’s new First-Team Manager!
Welcome to the Vale, Jon!
Read more: https://t.co/jCqkFDpBWl#PVFC | #PVFC150 pic.twitter.com/91k5RzaZ0u
— Port Vale Football Club (@OfficialPVFC) January 6, 2026
We have a feeling you’re going to like this! 😄
Watch Jon Brady’s first interview as #PVFC First-Team Manager now 👉 https://t.co/VFVHxvwKN4#PVFC150 pic.twitter.com/QbUnAOMPYc
— Port Vale Football Club (@OfficialPVFC) January 6, 2026
CLUB STATEMENT:
Port Vale Football Club are delighted to confirm that Jon Brady has been appointed as the club’s new First-Team Manager.
The 50-year-old Australian has signed an initial 18-month contract and will be in the dugout for Friday evening’s Emirates FA Cup Third Round fixture against Fleetwood Town.
Brady – who has managed more than 500 games since retiring as a player – previously enjoyed success with Northampton Town, securing automatic promotion to Sky Bet League One before guiding the club to their highest finish in 16 years.
He previously managed Brackley Town between 2009 and 2015, winning seven trophies and breaking numerous records, becoming the longest-serving and most successful manager in the club’s history in the process.
Brady comes from a strong coaching background, having gained his UEFA B License by the age of 23 and going on to run his own coaching business. He has since obtained an LMA Diploma in Football Management and, more recently, completed a leadership course alongside a number of the game’s most respected managers.
Speaking about the appointment, Port Vale Chief Executive Matt Hancock, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Jon to Vale Park as the club’s new manager. Jon was the standout candidate at the end of what was a thorough recruitment process, with his experience and passion for returning to management here at Port Vale really shining through.
“Jon is someone who we believe can make a real difference here in both the short and long term, and he will have our full support as we focus on achieving our objectives this season.”
The club is working with Jon on finalising his backroom staff, with further details to be confirmed in due course.
Everyone at the club would like to extend a warm welcome to Jon and his family.
After being named Port Vale First-Team Manager, Jon Brady has written a message to the Vale faithful…
I’m honoured to be the manager of this special football club. From the first conversations with the Owners and the Board, I felt this was the right project and the right fit for me.
I’m going into this with my eyes wide open. We are bottom and there’s a lot of work to do, but everyone associated with this club has a chance to create history. Can we all pull together, every day, and achieve survival? The staff, the players, the supporters, everyone united and focused on the goal of winning games, and building momentum.
I want the supporters to make it as difficult as possible for the opposition when they come to Vale Park. I want the players to give their all, play for the badge and to be the best version of themselves…
I’ve spent a year out of work, and it’s given me time to assess, to learn and ultimately to select the role that matches my own values: people, community, morals – all at the heart of my ethics.
On the pitch, I want us to be aggressive, fearless, hard-working and to get forward. These players need our love and support, they need to believe again. The win over Blackpool was the start of that. They showed the potential, and we need to replicate that second-half performance, and winning needs to become a habit.
I want to thank the Owners and the Board for the opportunity, and I want to say to every supporter, come along, make some noise, let’s get this place rocking. I want you all to know, I will give everything I have to make a success of things.
Jon
Here’s how fans reacted as Jon Brady issues a message to Port Vale fans after becoming the club’s new manager…
@Stew2205: Genuinely think every Cobblers fan will be delighted to see him back in the game. To any sceptical Vale fans, trust me he will do a great job.
@ScottP_Brown: Delighted to see him appointed – was a fantastic manager for the Cobblers, full of passion, and had the team playing the best football I’d seen for years! Hope you guys manage to stay up, though not at the cost of NTFC!
@PicardyBreezer: Great appointment. Should hopefully improve us straight away, but more broadly he’s one I’d trust to bounce back quickly if we are to fall short this season. Welcome and good luck, Jon. #pvfc
@Wayneconnor2: Welcome to the Pride of the Potteries Jon. Now for everyone to pull together and try and get out of this mess we find ourselves in #ktf
@KarenPVFC: Welcome Jon and all the very best, hope you can get us out of the mire this season and we can take it from there.
@myatt_p75918: Set team up have a go u be loved. Play for a 0-0s in a relegation position you wont be. Good luck fella you will need it. We have the players give each one the CONFIDENCE perform and we flying up that league and scoring the many presentable chances missed in prior 23 games UTV
@TheShoeArmy1897: My favourite Northampton manager in my time. He just got it. Not without limitations or faults and I don’t know how easily they can be looked over at a club that he doesn’t have such a local connection to. But I will be wishing him all the best and would love for him to succeed. That game at Sixfields is gunna hit different…
@pvfc_oli: Quite happy with this from what I’ve seen. Just need everyone to back him now
@EdSmith666: Fantastic appointment from the club, over the moon with this! If any Vale fans are unsure listen to his podcast with @GabSutton He worked wonders at Northampton on a shoe string , he’s passionate , good eye for a player and tactically astute. Well done @OfficialPVFC #pvfc
@CobblersToMe: Good to see Jon back in the game. Hope he loses terribly when Vale come to Sixfields in February though 😂
@gregwoodcock_14: Happy with this at present, let’s back him, get behind the lads and win the FA cup ##PVFC
@PVFC2022: Probably the best manager we could have realistically got so happy with that. Glad to see that the club have finally learned their lesson with an 18 month contract too