Port Vale Next Manager Odds: Three-Horse Race But Ferguson Remains Favourite
Port Vale parted ways with manager Darren Moore after a 5-0 thrashing by Huddersfield left them rooted to the foot of the League One table.
The Valiants had not won a league game in three months until a 5-1 win against Blackpool on New Year's Day left them nine points from safety.
First-team coach Jamie Smith is in temporary charge, but former Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson remains the early favourite on betting sites to replace Moore, who led the club to promotion last season.
We examine some of the contenders to fill the vacancy and the latest next Port Vale manager odds.
🗣️ Hear from Jamie Smith following this afternoon's 5-1 win against Blackpool#PVFC | #PVFC150 pic.twitter.com/TiPvH0pHKm
— Port Vale Football Club (@OfficialPVFC) January 1, 2026
Next Port Vale Manager Betting: Ferguson Cut For Vale Job
Ferguson has been cut from 6/4 to 4/5 favourite to land the Vale job after his fourth spell as Peterborough manager ended in October.
The son of legendary Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson enjoyed four promotions with Posh and one with Doncaster, so success has been a hallmark of his 19-year career as a manager.
Peterborough were propping up the League One table when he was shown the door three months ago, since when they have undergone a remarkable recovery under Luke Williams.
Whether Ferguson is ready to get involved in another relegation scrap so soon after leaving Peterborough remains open to question, but for now he is the leading candidate.
Next Port Vale Manager Odds:
Candidate | Odds | Probability |
Darren Ferguson | 4/5 | 55.6% |
Jon Brady | 11/4 | 26.7% |
Matt Bloomfield | 3/1 | 25% |
Liam Manning | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Mark Kennedy | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Tony Mowbray | 20/1 | 4.8% |
Karl Robinson | 20/1 | 4.8% |
Mark Hudson | 20/1 | 4.8% |
Leighton Baines | 20/1 | 4.8% |
Michael Flynn | 20/1 | 4.8% |
Steve Bruce | 20/1 | 4.8% |
Brady Ready For Next Challenge?
Jon Brady is one of the names in the frame to fill the managerial vacancy at Barrow, but the former Northampton boss is now the 11/4 second favourite for the Port Vale job, having been 5/1 earlier in the week.
The Australian led the Cobblers to League One in the 2022/23 season having missed out on automatic promotion on goal difference in the previous campaign following Bristol Rovers’ remarkable 7-0 victory over Scunthorpe on the final day.
Brady then guided the club to their highest finish in the third tier since 2008, but surprisingly handed in his resignation just over a year ago after a difficult start to the season.
Now with his batteries fully recharged, Brady could be ready for a fresh challenge at Vale Park.
Bloomfield Could Blossom At Vale
Matt Bloomfield is a Wycombe legend, but perhaps rued his decision to leave the League One promotion hopefuls to take the reins at Championship strugglers Luton almost a year ago.
Bloomfield, then at Adams Park, was named manager of the month in October and November in 2024, and on Boxing Day a 3-0 win at Stevenage made it 19 games unbeaten as they kept the pressure on leaders Birmingham in second spot.
However, his head was turned by the Hatters, who wanted Bloomfield at the helm to help them avoid back-to-back relegations.
Despite winning six of their final 12 games, Luton dropped into League One and Bloomfield was sacked in October after an underwhelming start to the current campaign.
Bloomfield's odds have been halved from 6/1 to 3/1 on one of the betting apps to reignite his managerial career at Port Vale.
Manning Heads Vale Outsiders
Liam Manning enjoyed more wins than losses at all of the clubs he has managed until he left Bristol City for Norwich in the summer.
Three wins from 17 Championship matches spelt the end for the ex-Oxford and MK Dons boss, who is 8/1 for the Port Vale job.
Kennedy Drifts
Former Celtic player Mark Kennedy is the fifth favourite to land the Vale job at 14/1, up from 8/1.
The 49-year-old Dubliner has not enjoyed a great deal of success as a manager save for the 2022/23 season when he led Lincoln to 11th place in League One.
An ill-fated spell at Swindon last season lasted only five months during which he won just three of his 16 League Two games.
Although managerial success has eluded him, the former Ireland international has enjoyed coaching spells with Ipswich’s U21s and Manchester City’s academy.
Experienced manager Tony Mowbray is 20/1, the same price as Karl Robinson, most recently with Salford, and ex-Cardiff boss Mark Hudson, now a set-play and first-team coach at Ipswich.
Former Everton defender Leighton Baines, ex-Newport boss Michael Flynn and Steve Bruce are also all available at 20/1.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
Who would you like to see replacing Moore as Port Vale manager? Let us know in the poll or in the comment box below!
