Source: PA
Richards relishing new role
Port Vale striker Marc Richards will do everything in his power to ensure all quarters are pulling in the right direction having been appointed new club captain.
The Valiants` talisman takes the armband having been promoted from vice-captain following Tommy Fraser`s departure, but he leads a very different side to one flying high under Micky Adams in December.
Tuesday`s 1-0 win over Rotherham was only the club`s second in 10 games and the first under new boss Jim Gannon, who saw a handful of squad members meet with Vale`s hierarchy earlier this week to raise their concerns over the faultering promotion charge.
Richards insists the events were "blown out of proportion" with the players subsequently rallying behind Gannon against the Millers, although the dressing room relationship remains very much under the spotlight.
New skipper Richards, who is looking to return from his thigh injury later this month, told The Sentinel: "I'm the middle man now between the lads and the manager and I want to help in every way to get us promoted.
"If that means uniting the lads with the manager, the fans, the board, I'll do it. But the lads are right behind the manager and proved that on Tuesday. There are no major issues. A few players wanted to get a few things off their chest, which is fair enough. It's a man's game, so if people want to go to the manager or the chairman I don't think it's a problem if it's done professionally."
