The crisis at Port Vale took a an unexpected twist over the holiday period, when controversial director Charles Machin resigned amid an acrimonious exchange of views with chairman and major shareholder Bill Bell, hitherto seen as a staunch ally. Vale had already made headlines this season thanks to Machin’s bizarre demand of manager Brian Horton that he fill in regular questionnaires on each player, and had also admitted they were using their yellow away strip more frequently because they could not afford to replace the home kit if it wore out. Other festering sores include the ungracious sacking of John Rudge in 1999 (and legal aftermath) and the club’s long-standing failure to complete the Lorne Street Stand at Vale Park.
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Richard Mason reflects on Fiorentina's explusion from the UEFA Cup and what it means for media objectivity
The exclusion of Fiorentina from the UEFA Cup has naturally provoked a lot of comment in Italy, but one aspect of the affair has been entirely ignored: its implications for media companies such as Sky and Carlton seeking to buy into football clubs.