ASKEY SWOOPS FOR ‘VERSATILE’ DEFENDER ZAK
PORT Vale have signed former Oldham defender Zak Mills on a one-year contract.
The 28-year-old right-back becomes John Askey’s second new signing of the summer, joining striker Devante Rodney.
Askey tried to sign Mills last summer when he was out of contract at Morecambe, but missed out to Oldham.
The defender began his career at Histon, moved on to Boston then got his break in the Football League by signing for Grimsby in 2016.
He spent two years there before moving to Morecambe where he won the supporters’ player of the year award for the 2018/19 season.
Although mainly a right-back, he can fill a number of positions.
He said: “Bar up front, there are not many places I can’t do a job. That comes in handy towards the end of the season when there are niggles. I can fill in most places, all the way across the back and get in midfield if needs be. But primarily, if I can stay at right-back, I prefer it.”
He had a tour of the ground on Wednesday before signing yesterday.
He said: “I met the owner Carol, we had a good chat and I left there thinking this is a good place to be.
“If you look at what they did last year, it was the gaffer’s first full season and they finished one point outside the play-offs with nine games to go.
“The gaffer has kept the majority of the squad. So, with a couple of additions, and hopefully I can add to that, hopefully we can push our way into the play-offs and, if not, at least be challenging at the top end of the table.”