Foyle linked to Banks’s hotseat

Friday 9th May 2008, 11:27AM BST.

Martin FoyleFormer Port Vale boss Martin Foyle has emerged as a contender for the vacant Walsall manager’s job.

But Micky Adams will not be in the running after he last night made a return to management with Brighton.

Foyle fulfills the criteria outlined by chairman Jeff Bonser, having enjoyed success at youth level with Vale before continuing the development of the youngsters in the first team when he took over the managerial reins at Vale Park.

The 44-year-old is available, having just finished a coaching spell at Wrexham where he was assisting Brian Little on a temporary basis, and he today confirmed his interest in succeeding Richard Money in the Banks’s hotseat. 

“I’ve sent my CV in to show that I am available,” Foyle said. “I’ve been working with Brian at Wrexham for the last few months but my contract there has ended.

“I was at Wrexham for three months and the understanding between Brian and I was that they wouldn’t stand in my way if a manager’s job came up.

“I’m looking around just like any manager who’s out of work. I’ve applied and if Walsall are interested I’d be very keen to talk to them.”

Foyle’s ability to wheel and deal and convert promising youth team prospects into valuable assets will not have gone unnoticed at the Banks’s, with players such as Billy Paynter, Chris Birchall, Leon Constantine and Akpo Sodje netting the Valiants in the region of £1 million in transfer fees.


  1. 1
    Matt

    You better be having a laugh.

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    SPEND SOME MONEY

    another yes man who will take us down. Please dont do this. David Kelly has more expereince! or Ian Hollway after he gets sacked on monday!!!

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    Tony

    Please NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Relegated – Port Vale
    Relegated – Wrexham

    Terrible Manager!!!!!!!We are way better than a bloke like this!

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    Taddy

    More and more nobodys crawling out of the woodwork.They might aswell give the job to the head groundsman he would proberbly do a better job?

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    karl

    league two here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    , if we give him the job, listen to the fans for a change, get the names in the hat then put it out in a survey and let the fans have a say,not by who will do the job for less wages etc.

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    Wacca

    What the hell. A guy who works well with youngsters is hardly the man to manage a team. Let him work at youth level and get a real manager.

    I guess Mickey Adams was too expensive or Bonser couldn’t be bothered to go after a good manager.

    We should get Donald Duck to be the manager as we have Goofy in charge of this Mickey Mouse club.

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    Wfcdanoc

    The last paragraph of this story says it all, Foyle has the ability to work with youngsters and sell them on for a massive profit! Bonser must think it’s his lucky day! I renewed my season ticket the beginning of March, I wish the club would match my committment! No ambition what so ever!

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    Fintan Stack

    Come on everybody. If the E&S is displaying the same level of investigative journalism as it did with yesterdays Micky Adams “scoop” then we’re more likely to have Sven as the new boss than this muppet.

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    ansonman

    Please let this be a joke.If Jeff Bonser has Martin Foyle as manager then as a life long fan i will not be lining Jeff Bonsers pockets next season!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    Ian

    What a pedigree. A coach who’s worked with kids and just helped a team drop out of the league.

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    internationalsaddler

    We do NOT want any Port Vale types at the Bescot thanks.

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    Cogburn

    Calm down a minute! There is no indication WHATSOEVER that Walsall are interested in employing this bloke. All this article is saying is that Foyle has sent his CV in and that the person who wrote the article thinks he fits the bill.

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    Jon Finlan

    What a joke,a manager with history of relegation,Has bonser been on the booze.

    Report abuse

  14. 14
    SWAMPY - SADDLER

    So are we going to get this every day from E&S now, until we get a manager?
    Every out of work bloke who has ever managed a football team is going to be connected with the post?
    Well Done E&S for this fantastic scoop!

    Concur with all above comments……especially the fact that Vale and Wrexham have both been relegated……….may be that’s JB showing ambition…..to be in the League 2!

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    dave

    Foyle………I dont think so. Peter Taylor would be my choice.

    Report abuse

  16. 16
    wezbob

    personally i think they gotta look at peter taylor, is he available.if stevenage can get him then surely we have a chance. Or give someone a chance who is looking to make a break into management. Paul ince given that chance by macclesfield, then mk dons and look where they are now.

    Report abuse

  17. 17
    Peter Keough

    Now Now Mr Foyle how many times do you have to apply for the Walsall job before you realise The job is far far to good for you everytime our managers post is avaiable he is always in the news applying for the job the next thing we here Mel Pejic will be applying another no hoper….. but always applies for the job, there is only one song we should be singing and that is NED (David Kelly) Kelly’s Barmy red and white army. and not Foyle foolish army…

    Report abuse

  18. 18
    CanadaWolf

    Jeezy peeps, and I thought we had a problem at Wolves. Bonser needs to go guys, but I think you already know that. Sorry fellas.

    Report abuse

  19. 19
    Spanish Wolf

    He applied to run our Acadamey and didnt get the job, be a bad appointment i think for you.

    Report abuse

  20. 20
    imstillhoping

    There is not a cat in hells chance of David Kelly getting the job, he doesn’t fit Jeff’s bill. If you want to know the leading contender just ask me nicely, I can promise you that it’s someone that none of you have mentioned.

    Report abuse

  21. 21
    imstillhoping

    Can’t say i’m surprised that there’s not much interest in who the next manager will be, but i’m afraid i’m unavailable now until Monday, if if there hasn’t been an announcement i’ll let you know then.

    Report abuse

  22. 22
    SWAMPY - SADDLER

    Well who ever it is we still just about have a starting line, even if we have no subs…….let’s see now, the current squad????
    Ince, Weston, Boertien, Smith, Gerrard, Ish, Taundry, Bradley, Hall (is he still here? – if not then we are struggling to put out 11 players!), Nicholls & Deeney. Oh then there’s Craddock and Gilmartin to fill in.

    So let’s be positive, we can put a team out!

    Report abuse



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