Stoke & Staffordshire

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  1. Port Vale sign striker Simpson after Stevenage exitpublished at 12:32 BST 4 August

    Striker Tyreece Simpson, wearing a purple Stevenage shirt, waves after the match away at Norwich CityImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Tyreece Simpson has signed a one-year contract with Port Vale

    Port Vale have signed striker Tyreece Simpson on a one-year deal.

    Simpson, 24, was available on a free transfer after he left League One side Stevenage at the end of last season - and he has agreed to drop into League Two with the Valiants, who were relegated from the third tier in April.

    St Kitts and Nevis international Simpson is an Ipswich Town academy product but has, since leaving Portman Road, had permanent spells with Huddersfield Town and Stevenage as well as loan spells at Swindon Town, Northampton Town and Colchester United.

    He missed all of last term injured, having suffered a ruptured Achilles in pre-season, as Stevenage reached the League One play-offs and he was among seven senior players to leave the club at the end of their contracts.

    Vale have made him their eighth signing of a busy summer, having already recruited Lewis Montsma, Jasper Moon, Max Watters, Aaron McGowan, Kyle Dempsey, Matthew Craig and Jackson Smith.

    Remember, this is your Port Vale club page so bookmark it, or if you're on the BBC Sport app or signed in on a browser, hit 'Follow' to add it to your MySport and get more news - and also select the bell icon in the app to sign up for club notifications.

  2. 'No-one wants club to be in this position' - Robinspublished at 19:20 BST 3 August

    Chris Harby
    BBC Sport, West Midlands

    Mark Robins looks to his right with mouth openImage source, Shutterstock
    Image caption,

    Mark Robins is Stoke's seventh permanent manager in eight seasons

    Stoke City boss Mark Robins says the club is looking to further improve the squad as it looks to end a run of disappointing seasons.

    Since relegation from the Premier League in 2018, the Potters have failed to challenge for promotion, with a highest finish of 14th in eight subsequent campaigns.

    Robins' side made a good start to last season, but a run of injuries and poor form saw them finish in 17th.

    In June, the club's sporting director, Jonathan Walters, dismissed speculation over Robins' future, but the manager knows patience is wearing thin over the club's predicament.

    "I want to improve it [the squad], we all want to improve it as quickly as possible, as much as possible, and do as much as we possibly can do to do it," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

    "I think players have had opportunity. There's been too much time and too many years that the club has been in the position that it's been in and nobody wants that to continue, so get on board."

    Yet Robins was pleased with his side's display in their final pre-season test on Saturday - a 1-1 draw with Valencia which followed a win over Everton.

    "I think you can see there's a good togetherness but also a good team that's being built," he said.

    "If they work like that then they've got a good chance because we've got some players with a threat."

  3. 🎧 'Once the tempo improves, the play improves'published at 14:18 BST 3 August

    BBC Radio Stoke's Mark Elliott is joined by former Stoke City defender Ian Cranson to reflect on the Potters' 1-1 home draw with Valencia in their final pre-season friendly.

    Listen to the full analysis below or on BBC Sounds here

    Media caption,

    ‘Once the tempo improves, the play improves’

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