He further had to deny claims that he was picking the team, stating that first team matters were purely down to Rob Page. We have estimated He took over as chairman of Port Vale in 2013, having been a key figure in the boardroom as the club secured promotion out of League Two in 201213. The Shanahans, both long-standing Vale supporters, who own Potteries-based firm. Having previously greeted each EFL postponement of a Bury game - five league fixtures and an EFL Cup tie so far this season - with an angry statement on the club website, Dale announced he was willing to listen to offers for the club early last week. Port Vale: Tony Fradley named chairman after Norman Smurthwaite - BBC His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. Notts County takeover: Norman Smurthwaite holds talks after teeing up Maybe you would be better off growing potatoes on it? [48] Aspin steered the club away from relegation by the end of the 201718 season, and in June 2018 Smurthwaite revealed that he had rejected another offer to buy the club from an unnamed bidder. He returned formally to the role of Port Vale chairman the following month. The concern in January was over the future of manager Micky Adams, and the apparent reluctance of Smurthwaite to offer a contract despite the positive results on the field as the managers contract came close to its expiry at the end of the season; once a contract was promised Adams stated that He has talked about it, now he has to deliver. So, how much is Norman Smurthwaite worth at the age of 63 years old? But having initially claimed to buy the club for "philanthropic" reasons, Dale put Bury into administration this summer and engineered a debt repayment scheme, known as a company voluntary arrangement, that would see creditors paid only 25 per cent of what they are owed, with him and his associates being the main beneficiaries. He qualified as an engineer and inherited an engineering firm in Holbrooks at the age of 21 from a friend who was a father figure to him. A rival consortium also offered the same figure, but Smurthwaite rejected both offers. He took over as chairman of Port Vale i But we would have to lower the bar quite some distance if we are to look back on Smurthwaite's reign as a success. Smurthwaite caused controversy by telling a reporter that supporters who only attended away matches (due partly to Vale Park's high ticket costs) "disgusted" him and that they should "go and support another club". [18] He later claimed that he had considered appointing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as manager, but decided against it partly because he believed that a racist minority of the club's supporters would make appointing a black manager a bad idea. It was revealed that Smurthwaite had funded the initial takeover, and that the pair had a disagreement following defeat to Bristol Rovers in March, with Smuthwaite insisting on a more public approach to take pressure off the manager and players. With Smurthwaite at the helm, that's rarely been an issue. Norman Smurthwaite - Wikipedia Smurthwaite was reported to have made a bid for National League club Notts County in June 2019, but denied having done so. He set an asking price of 4.25 million, stating I have never lost money on a transaction in my adult life and I am not starting now. He later issued a statement saying that the wage bill budget set by the club in the summer was over-ambitious and that he had been forced to meet the 1 million budget deficit out of his own pocket. As the transfer window was closing, the Port Vale Supporters Club unanimously gave a vote of no confidence in Smurthwaite and elected to begin formal protests against his ownership. "Of course, as a local club we want to see our local players do well. [2], Smurthwaite was part of the investment group, led by Paul Wildes, that took Port Vale out of administration in November 2012. We have estimated Norman Smurthwaites net worth, money, salary, income, and assets. Smurthwaite continued to effect changes at the club, controversially axing the system of door-to-door lottery collectors and banishing the Port Vale Community Trust out of Vale Park. 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Supporters' Club chairman Mark Porter's reports a heated debate with Smurthwaite after the group threw their weight behind those protests against him. [39] He also installed Colin Garlick as the club's CEO, and in January stated that "I'm only really involved now when it comes to prising open the sweetie jar for the money". But it feels like the time spent typing was often preceded by long moments contemplating what the hell was happening at Port Vale. $140 per post at $7/CPM. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Smurthwaite was raised in Radford, Coventry, and bought his own home in the area at the age of 17 after receiving compensation from an industrial accident at Dunlop in 1977. Brown remained as caretaker-manager for the rest of the season, but was unable to save the club from relegation back into League Two. Tensions are running high between League One neighbours Port Vale and Crewe Alexandra, with the Vale chairman claiming his wife "fears for her life" when visiting their rivals' ground Wiki Biography & Celebrity Profiles as wikipedia. With his large number of social media fans, he often posts many personal photos and videos to interact with his huge fan base on social media platforms. During this time the club was serving players unsold pies from matchdays in order to save money. [1] His father and family are from the Sunderland area; he owned a business in the North East between 1999 and 2007 and was a season ticket holder at Sunderland for seven seasons. The club has reinvigorated me it has saved me really, given me a new purpose." The Vale went into administration twice in a decade before Smurthwaite arrived. [23] In April 2015 an email from his account was sent to a group of supporters stating that he wished to sell the club, though he denied sending the email, claiming that he had been hacked. We need a pledge of 2.7m plus to save Bury.". PVFC Limited, the club's holding company, was hit with a winding-up order by HM Revenue and Customs in July 2014; Smurthwaite insisted this would not affect the club and that a funding error caused the problem and expected the order to be withdrawn. With Port Vale lying bottom of the English Football League, Smurthwaite sacked Brown on 16 September and claimed that he had been against giving Brown the job on a permanent basis in the summer but left the decision to Chief Executive Colin Garlick. He resigned as chairman following relegation back to League Two in 201617. Smurthwaite will think so. That version of events portrays Vale up a creek, relying on his paddle. Six-and-a-half years on and Smurthwaite stayed away from Vale's final game under his ownership, away to Bury on Saturday. He continued to reveal that he had been physically assaulted by three Vale supporters in April 2014, though Staffordshire Police could find no record of Smurthwaite's complaint. MR NORMAN SMURTHWAITE - Company Check Neil Aspin was a popular appointment and did well to keep Vale up last season. Norman Smurthwaite Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Speaking in July 2016, Smurthwaite was still angry about the defeat to Exeter City seven months previously. He later claimed that he had considered appointing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as manager, but decided against it partly because he believed that a racist minority of the clubs supporters would make appointing a black manager a bad idea. He later issued a statement to apologize for his decision to appoint Ribeiro and expressed regret with his own attempts to communicate with fans and "keyboard warriors" over social media. Those overheard conversations over plates of enchiladas and banana pudding . Smurthwaite was rumoured to have planned to sack Page live on BT Sport if the club lost an FA Cup First Round replay to Maidenhead United, though he dismissed the rumour as untrue. He was hospitalised after being struck by a car whilst walking outside Vale Park on 25 January 2019. It certainly wasn't on the field. The Football League assigned Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston as his mentor. E. Jean Carroll began testifying Wednesday in the trial of her federal lawsuit. He bought the Liberty Way stadium off Nuneaton Town in July 2018 and sold Port Vale in May 2019. So, he missed the sight of supporters parading a huge banner across the away end of Gigg Lane depicting Smurthwaite with a dummy and rattle under the headline 'Bye, bye, cry baby' - get out of our club.'. Port Vale Football Club is officially up for sale, owner Norman Smurthwaite has confirmed. This was the amount Dale called on supporters and the local business community to pledge when he was interviewed by talkSPORT on Friday. Norman Smurthwaite (born August 1960) is an English businessman who served as the chairman of Port Vale Football Club from 2013 to 2017. He sold the business two years later and moved to Nottingham, where he bought a chain of estate agents that he later sold on to the Halifax. [60] When the couple told Smurthwaite they were planning to go public about their offer he texted them to say "sorry not interested. He was hoisted shoulder high during promotion celebrations in The Crown, Burslem, at the end of his first season, a campaign in which some fans were also inspired to dress as Smurfs to celebrate Vale's success under their new owner. Port Vale: Micky Adams no less committed - Norman Smurthwaite He went on to name John Askey as the club's new manager on 4 February. On 1 March, Synectics Solutions owners Carol and Kevin Shanahan revealed that Smurthwaite had rejected their improved offer of 3.5 million for the club. Discover Norman Smurthwaite's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. In October 2013 Smurthwaite controversially banned local newspaper The Sentinel from all press events after taking objection with the newspaper's reporting a lengthy delay in producing specially presented third-kit shirts to fans who had pre-paid for the items in May. [35] Upon appointing Portuguese manager Bruno Ribeiro, the club's first manager from outside Britain, Smurthwaite stated that: "It has been a long, extensive process but I'm absolutely certain we have the right man for the job. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Port Vale Football Club is officially up for sale, owner Norman Smurthwaite has confirmed. "Millionaire Coventry City fan who has just bought Port Vale", "Port Vale vs SAFC: another Who are You?, a big Sunderland connection", "Port Vale takeover: 'Fans are key to the future prosperity of club', "Smurf won over by the passion of supporters", "Port Vale: Chairman Paul Wildes steps down after six-month reign", "Sentinel reporter Michael Baggaley banned from the press box at Vale Park", "Club finances under scrutiny after chairman Norman Smurthwaite gives plea of poverty to football agents", "Smurthwaite responds after Port Vale's finances come under spotlight", "Micky Adams won't rush new contract deal", "Winding-up petition will not harm club, says chairman", "Port Vale axe season tickets for lottery agents", "Port Vale community scheme moves to Hanley after row with football club", "Manager Micky Adams in the market for two more players", "Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite plans to bring in more Premier League youngsters", "Port Vale appoint interim boss as manager", "Chairman turned down Hasselbaink amid racist fan chants accusation", "Chairman says away-only Vale fans might as well support Stoke City", "Port Vale: Claims that Norman Smurthwaite 'threatened to close club' over police row", "Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite stands by decision to refuse police bill", "Norman Smurthwaite makes clear that Rob Page runs the team", "Chairman not planning to sell club and believes email was a hoax", "Chairman warns of Plan B if Ribeiro's team aren't challenging for top six by Christmas", "Norman Smurthwaite says Rob Page didn't face TV sacking at Maidenhead", "Port Vale: Norman Smurthwaite puts League One club up for sale", "Chairman scraps plans to sign striker after FA Cup exit", "Norman Smurthwaite puts club up for sale", "Buyer will need more than 4m for club and ground", "Norman Smurthwaite says he was beaten up by three Vale fans", "Norman Smurthwaite plays down rumours of buying Torquay", "Chairman criticised by anti-racism group over Hasselbaink decision", "Port Vale: Norman Smurthwaite says he wanted Rob Page out", "Valiants reveal press conference to unveil new manager", "Valiants confirm Bruno Ribeiro is new manager", "Port Vale: Norman Smurthwaite says Plan B has been triggered", "Port Vale: Ribeiro's future may rest on Mourinho and contacts", "Bruno Ribeiro: Port Vale manager resigns after Walsall defeat", "Michael Brown: Port Vale caretaker boss judged on results, says chairman", "Port Vale chairman says bidders have met asking price for club", "Port Vale relegation COMMENT: Fans let down by woeful decisions", "Norman Smurthwaite stands down as Port Vale chairman", "WATCH: Burslem-based IT firm makes 1.25m bid to buy Port Vale", "Norman Smurthwaite rejects both local bids for Port Vale", "Port Vale's Norman Smurthwaite says he was against appointment of Michael Brown", "Port Vale: Gateshead manager Neil Aspin returns to former club as manager", "Norman Smurthwaite reveals talks to sell Port Vale have fallen through", "Port Vale owner Norman Smurthwaite completes deal for Nuneaton Borough's ground", "Norman Smurthwaite replaces Tony Fradley as Port Vale chairman", "Port Vale owner set to stay in hospital for second night after he is hit by car", "Neil Aspin: Port Vale manager resigns after 15 months in charge", "Norman Smurthwaite: Port Vale owner seeks police help over supporters' abuse", "Port Vale: Kyle Howkins, Callum Whelan and Toby Edser join on loan", "Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite issues statement as fans plan protest", "John Askey: Port Vale appoint ex-Shrewsbury & Macclesfield boss as new manager", "Synectics Solutions' 3.5m bid for Port Vale is rejected today", "Carol Shanahan: 'Why we want to buy Port Vale', "Port Vale supporters protest against owner amid administration claims", "Port Vale: Norman Smurthwaite sells League Two club to Carol & Kevin Shanahan", "Former Port Vale owner makes bid for non-league giants, claims report", "Former Port Vale owner Norman Smurthwaite has his say over Notts Co report", "Businessman linked with Notts takeover ready to rescue Bury", "Wigan Athletic bidder drops out of the race", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Norman_Smurthwaite&oldid=1144090981, This page was last edited on 11 March 2023, at 19:46. Smurthwaite has confirmed to PA Sport that he made an offer for the Shakers, who could be expelled from the Football League unless their owner Steve Dale provides assurances by midnight tonight. He went on to invest in dozens of properties and retired at the age of 50. [53] On 31 January 2019, Smurthwaite blamed "logistical challenges" for the deal to bring back former top-scorer Marc Richards breaking down; the club instead signed four youngsters despite having no manager. [1] He sold the business two years later and moved to Nottingham, where he bought a chain of estate agents that he later sold on to the Halifax. Upon appointing Portuguese manager Bruno Ribeiro, the clubs first manager from outside Britain, Smurthwaite stated that: It has been a long, extensive process but Im absolutely certain we have the right man for the job. Smurthwaite then improved the clubs budget to allow over ten new, mostly foreign, signings, and stated that he expected Vale to be challenging for the top six and warned his staff that he would enact plan B if the club were not in the top six by Christmas. One man cannot stop one football club that has hundreds of years of history going out of existence. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Discover Norman Smurthwaite's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Appointing managers isn't an exact science and, besides, Smurthwaite's record certainly isn't all bad. Their longest current appointment spans 24 years, 2 months and 1 days at FALCON ALLIANCE LIMITED In April 2015 an email from his account was sent to a group of supporters stating that he wished to sell the club, though he denied sending the email, claiming that he had been hacked. However, on this occasion, his team did not. [26] There was controversy however following the club's defeat to mid-table League Two side Exeter City in the Second Round on 6 December 2015, after which Smurthwaite stated he felt "humiliated, ashamed and embarrassed" and said that plans to sign a striker in the January transfer window would be scrapped. Well now he can suck away after selling the club to Carol and Kevin Shanahan to bring down the curtain on a reign that began when he and his then business partner Paul Wildes bought the club and the ground for 1.25m from the administrators in November 2012. Plus, the 25 we are asked to pay to park each coach is the most expensive in League One. He is from British. [10] He later issued a statement saying that the wage bill budget set by the club in the summer was over-ambitious and that he had been forced to meet the 1 million budget deficit out of his own pocket. Two months later, Smurthwaite used the OneValeFan fansite to ask supporters to vote whether he should sell the club to one of two hedge funds that he said had met his asking price for the club. England women's team manager Phil Neville revealed that his mother Jill, who had been Bury's club secretary, resigned from her job on Friday. The Football League assigned Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston as his mentor. Brown remained as caretaker-manager for the rest of the season, but was unable to save the club from relegation back into League Two. "It could take three months. He qualified as an engineer and inherited an engineering firm in Holbrooks at the age of 21 from a friend who was a "father figure" to him. "I pray that common sense today prevails and that somebody is allowed to buy that club and the town has something to be proud of again.". If this can be demonstrated, the league will release the withheld funding of just over 500,000. Norman Smurthwaite: Port Vale owner seeks police help over - BBC There is no question Norman Smurthwaite is the most famous & most loved celebrity of all the time.