‘Looking back is not something which entertains me. You could have won 25 games, but it’s all about the next one’
PORT Vale manager Darrell Clarke spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s League Two home game with Colchester.
Asking the questions, in this order, were PHIL BOWERS of BBC Radio Stoke, GEORGE ANDREWS of Hitmix Radio and MIKE BAGGALEY of The Sentinel and Stokeontrentlive.
I WANT TO START BY TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING YOU AND THE PLAYERS HAVE MENTIONED RECENTLY – TEAM SPIRIT. HOW DO YOU CREATE THAT AND KEEP IT GOING?
It was built as soon as we got our squad together. Built through the course of different ways of doing things and how we work together to get the group close-knit off the pitch as well as on the training pitch.
There is a lot of work that goes into the detail of the games but also making sure the culture and the environment of the club is testament to what the owners want.
They have built a successful business with how we are building the culture at a football club.
That is not always easy, and it is that togetherness. We are in the building every single day, and it is making sure that not just the player environment but the environment of the whole building is absolutely spot on to build that team spirit.
My principles are it is fun with a purpose to win, a serious purpose to win. So, the spirit has to show out on the pitch.
I think we can safely say over the season that has gone so far that has been the case in a lot of our games. Hopefully that can keep building and bonding. That’s as a football club, not just players, because I have said this all the time, everyone has to come together for a football club to be successful, whether that is the board, supporters or players. When you do that, you give yourselves a chance. If you don’t do that, you have no chance.
YOU ARE THE PUBLIC FACE OF ALL THIS, SO DO YOU HAVE TO SET THE STANDARDS THAT DEMAND THAT SPIRIT AND PROFESSIONALISM NEEDED?
Leadership in organisations starts at the top, so you have the owners then it comes down to myself and my boss, David Flitcroft, to make sure we build the culture and the environment that goes with what the owners want at the club.
They have backed that up. They are a very caring family, they look after all their employees, and we have to reward that to make sure the culture is set spot on. But reward that by hard graft and fun with a purpose to win.
HAS IT HELPED THAT SOME OF THE PLAYERS YOU HAVE RECRUITED THIS SUMMER – AARON MARTIN, MAL BENNING, TOM PETT ETC, HAVE EXPERIENCE OF THIS DIVISION AND KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL TEAM?
It’s important at football clubs. I don’t know if you have read the ‘Legacy’ book (about the New Zealand Rugby Union team); it’s a really good book. The ‘No **** heads’.
That’s the case for me when I am signing players. We live in a very individualised world. Yes, we all have to look after ourselves and our families, I get that, but there are certain characteristics you want to bring in when you sign players to make sure their focus is on the club and what we want at this club.
When we did recruit, me and Flickers and the recruitment team, that was top of the agenda, making sure that whoever came to this club wasn’t going to drag it down. We believe we have the right attributes with that. Now it is up to us to keep making them better players.
WE’RE JUST ABOUT TO SPEAK TO AARON MARTIN, SO TELL US ABOUT THE IMPACT HE’S HAD?
Outstanding senior. Your changing room is made by your seniors and their attitude.
We have some really good ones and also some really good ones that are becoming seniors and are at a fantastic age. So, the likes of Aaron Martin and Leon Legge, experienced boys like that lead by example every single day.
Leggey has been injured for a bit, but I am telling you now, he will come back in good shape because of the way he conducts himself, the way he is around the building.
Aaron Martin is exactly the same. There is not an ounce of fat on him, he works hard, he is great with the younger boys. He has had that experience, and you need that in the core element of your changing room.
TELL US ABOUT THE TREATMENT ROOM, WHO IS UP TO WHERE. WE KNOW LEON LEGGE HAS HIS BRACE OFF (after a knee injury), SO WHERE ARE YOU WITH HIM AND SOME OF THE OTHERS?
It is a daily thing where we are stepping up his (Legge’s) programme. We are hoping we don’t have any setbacks with that.
Ryan Johnson is still a little bit away. Jamie Proctor is as well, to
be honest with you, he is going to be a little bit away.
We have one or two niggles in the camp, but I don’t want to go into too much detail about that. There is always different reasons why certain players aren’t in the squad. I am happy to answer those questions after games, but I don’t really want to do too much of the opposition manager’s work.
So, we will see how we are. We had a really good debrief after the Mansfield game. We looked at what didn’t go particularly well there. It wasn’t a great performance, but we ground out a point, and we look to see who is ready for tomorrow.
SO, THE PLAYERS WHO HAVEN’T BEEN IN THE TEAM HAVE TO BE READY IF NEEDED?
It is a squad game, I have said that all along. We have been, touch wood, quite fortunate….well not fortunate because it is preparation work that we are not picking up too many muscle tear, hamstring and calf injuries. We are trying to get the load right. Sometimes that load means that some players don’t perform for three games in a week.
We need to make sure that is right, working with the very good medical team I have at the club.
LOOKING AT THIS WEEKEND, THE HOME FORM HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD AND IF YOU CAN TAKE THREE POINTS, IT WOULD REPRESENT A GOOD WEEK?
‘Previous’ doesn’t entertain me, you know that Phil. Looking back doesn’t entertain me. It doesn’t matter if you have won 25 home games, it is the next game, and you still have another home game in front of you.
Colchester are a very experienced team with a lot of exipswich, Championship players in their team. They might be a little disappointed they have not got the points total they think they have deserved. It is another tough League Two encounter.
DARRELL YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ‘BOUNCEBACKABILITY’. FOUR POINTS OUT OF TWO GAMES IS GOOD BUT, BY YOUR OWN ADMISSION, IT WASN’T THE BEST PERFORMANCE AT MANSFIELD. BUT YOU’RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO PLAY WELL ARE YOU?
I think ‘bouncebackability’ is a bit harsh. We have ground out a point. We played against a team that, yes, have been on a bad run, but had one or two important players coming back and were very good on the night.
We were nowhere near the standards we have set ourselves but it wasn’t a defeat. So ‘w’ is not in question for me. It is about making sure we put in a good performance tomorrow in front of our own fans against an experienced Colchester team.
YOU MUST BE PLEASED ARE YOU WITH THE RETURN SO FAR?
I think you and Phil have the same
Weetabix, George! At the end of the day, mate, let’s not look back, it is about the next game.
So many people get bogged down by history at football clubs. I get it and I understand it, and sometimes I go into it, so I don’t want to sound two-faced, but the fact of the matter is it is about the next game.
THE SITUATION AT NEWCASTLE MIGHT CHANGE THINGS FOR LEWIS CASS. WE KNOW YOU HAVE HIM ON LOAN BUT IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU MIGHT, AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE WINDOW, BE LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT DEAL?
Listen, Lewis has done very well. I would never be disrespectful to another football club and speak to you, George, before I speak to other football clubs. Lewis is on loan with us until the end of the season and we are looking forward to furthering his development.
DARRELL, I KNOW YOUR FOCUS IS ON COLCHESTER BUT WE HAVEN’T ASKED YOU ABOUT THE FA CUP DRAW (Vale are at home to Accrington on the weekend of November 6). JUST GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS.
Accrington Stanley. I am looking forward to seeing John (Coleman) and Jimmy (Bell). They are great lads and a fantastic management team.
It is a home tie, we are the underdogs in the home tie because they are a division above. But we look forward to that.
BECAUSE YOU ARE COMPETING WHERE YOU ARE IN THE LEAGUE – AND WE WON’T MENTION THE ‘P’ WORD – CAN THE FA CUP STILL BE A PRIORITY?
Yes, it is. I love the FA Cup. I haven’t had a great record in it in recent years to be honest with you. I always want to do well in the FA Cup. I want to do well in all cups, in any game to be honest, but the FA Cup is special to me.
Growing up, it was always a family affair watching the final. A few drinks and sandwiches watching it. So, I love the FA Cup and will be taking it very seriously.
JUST GIVE US YOUR VIEWS ON DANNY WHITEHEAD GOING ON LOAN TO ALTRINCHAM. ALSO, IS THERE ANY MOVEMENT WITH SCOTT BURGESS (who is also transfer-listed)?
No, there is no movement on Scott. There was Theo (Robinson), Scott and Danny. They weren’t with the group. That was my decision. They are great lads, just weren’t going to be part of my plans. So, I am pleased for Danny because he is a good lad. Scott is working hard with the youth team, training to try to get himself fixed up.
AND YOU SAID YOU MIGHT HAVE ANOTHER RESERVE FRIENDLY. IS THAT NEXT WEEK?
Potentially, there was going to be one on Tuesday but that has been cancelled so we will look for one the following week. We’ll see how that develops.