Edinburgh favourite for Valiants post

(Photo: Action Images via Reuters)

By Alex Beard

Following Michael Brown‘s dismissal as Port Vale manager at the weekend the bookies are already pontificating about who will fill his spot on the dugout at Vale Park.

A number of names abound, of course, but chief among them is Justin Edinburgh – sacked by League One Northampton last month.

Brown was given the chance to carry on at Port Vale this summer despite the club’s relegation to the fourth tier under his caretaker charge last season, but a run of poor results left his side bottom of the Football League and the club parted company with the 40-year-old on Saturday.

Assistant managers David Kelly and Chris Morgan have been placed in charge while the search for a new boss takes place, but with Edinburgh unemployed a quick appointment could well be possible.

47-year-old Edinburgh enjoyed success at non-league level before guiding Newport County back into the football league in 2013. His time in charge at Gillingham was disappointing, and although he saved Northampton from relegation last season, things quickly soured at Sixfields.

As is often the case when appointing managers the board would have to be prepared to look past Edinburgh’s more recent failures and focus on his prior achievements in the hope that he can fulfil the potential he showed at the start of his managerial career.

Both Kelly and Morgan are also being linked with the post, as well as former Rotherham and Leeds boss Neil Redfearn.