Neil Aspin tells reporters to ‘ask the chairman’ about his future after defeat

Posted Sunday, January 27, 2019 by PA

Under-fire Port Vale boss Neil Aspin came out firing after questions surrounding his future following a 1-0 defeat to Carlisle at Vale Park.

Aspin’s men went down to a deflected Connor Simpson effort in the 79th minute after the Valiants had played the entire second half with 10 men following Ricky Miller sending off.

Vale have only won once since the end of November and when tackled over his future, Aspin said: “I don’t know, it’s not my decision to make. You have a better chance of keeping your job if you’re winning games.

“I’ve always said as long as the players give their all on the pitch and represent me then that’s all I can ask.

“If the club makes a decision that I have to go then it’s out of my hands.

“As long as the players don’t throw the towel in then that’s all I can ask.

“I think you’re concentrating too much on whether I’m going to get sacked or not – you need to sum up the game.

“I thought the players were desperately unlucky today. It sums up how the season is going – to go down to 10 men and then concede a goal from a double deflection.

“Whether I’m here or not, you’re asking the wrong person. Why are you asking me? Ask the chairman.

“What do you want me to say?

“There’s conversations every week. I’m a manager who’s not winning games so what do you expect?

“By your questioning you obviously expect me to get sacked and the supporters want me sacked.

“All I can do, even when I was a player was give my all and be honest and I’ve done the same as a manager.”

Carlisle have closed in on the automatic promotion spots after an impressive run of eight wins in nine games.

Boss Steven Pressley said: “When I came here I inherited a very good group of players who were performing at a high level.

“It was important we didn’t make too many changes, which I’ve tried not to do.

“The players have been great and today was a difficult game on a difficult pitch, not in great conditions. To come away from home and win the game 1-0 shows good signs of a team.

“It was a really professional performance away from home and a really important one if you’re serious about making a challenge.

“The players already in the dressing room deserve quality players coming in to continue the challenge they’ve put in place.

“I think we definitely need players in. I think we’ve done exceptionally well to get six points from the last two games considering how many players we’ve lost.

“Sixteen games is a long time with a small group of players.

“I know we have the money in place to bring in good players. I’ve been promised that.”