Former York City boss John Ward is grouped among the front-runners to succeed John Rudge at Port Vale.

The Potteries club, who relieved Rudge of his manager's job after 14 years in charge and just days after he failed to tempt City with an £800,000 move for top scorer Richard Cresswell, are expected to advertise for a successor.

Current Brighton manager Brian Horton is tipped as the favourite, but Ward, who is currently coaching at fellow First Division club Wolves, is also said to be in the reckoning.

Ward, who was in charge at Bootham Crescent from 1991 to 1993, began this season as manager of Bristol City, but his tenure there ended in autumn with the arrival of Swedish coach Benny Lennartson.

A few months later he linked up with new Wolves boss Colin Lee at Molineux, but now he could be in the running for the Vale position.

Another candidate is former Stoke City and Everton striker Adrian Heath.

Meanwhile, Vale fans angry at the treatment of Rudge, who is thought unlikely to accept the offer of Director at Football with the Valiants, have launched a campaign to oust chairman Bill Bell and his board.

Railed fans' organiser Ian White: "John Rudge arrived 19 years ago, and we were bottom of the Fourth Division playing at places like Halifax and Rochdale.

"In the past 19 years, he has taken us to the First Division, and we're ahead of our greatest rivals Stoke. Everton, Tottenham, Southampton and Derby were all knocked out of cups.

"The supporters are absolutely outraged. John will not come back while the present board are in charge so we have to get rid of them."

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