2001–02 Port Vale F.C. season
The pre-season saw Brian Horton sign numerous bit-part players on free transfers: Ashley Dodd (Manchester United); Ian Armstrong (Liverpool); Phil Hardy (an eleven-year Wrexham veteran); Rae Ingram (Macclesfield Town); and Alex Gibson (Stoke City).[1] This was followed by just one point from six games, in September, after failing to secure Paul Hall's signature, New Zealand international striker Chris Killen was signed on loan from Manchester City.On 22 January, Vale recorded a 3–2 victory over Oldham Athletic with Marc Bridge-Wilkinson marking his return from a five-month injury layoff with the assist for McPhee's winning goal.[13] It also encouraged chairman Bill Bell to offer new contracts to the management team (Horton, Grew, Foyle and Glover), as well as seven players.At the end of the season, numerous players were allowed to leave on free transfers: Sagi Burton (Crewe Alexandra); George O'Callaghan (Cork City); Danny Maye (Southend United); Paul Donnelly (Stone Dominoes); Steve Torpey (Prescot Cables); and Phil Hardy.A Charles Machin-led consortium made a £1 million bid for the club in December but was turned away by Bill Bell, who claimed that Valiant2001 "won't last three months".[18] In the League Cup, for the second consecutive season, Vale faced Third Division Chesterfield in the first round, this time, however, the two-legged format was scrapped in favour of a standard knock-out tournament structure.[19] Facing Premier League Charlton Athletic at The Valley in the second round, Alan Curbishley's men eliminated the Vale with a 2–0 win.