Mark McGhee interested in vacant Port Vale post

MARK McGhee, sacked by Aberdeen last month, is bidding to make a rapid return to management with League Two side Port Vale.

McGhee is one of six targets Vale have approached as they seek a replacement for Micky Adams, who quit to take charge at Sheffield United.

"All I want to do is work and Vale are an attractive club, because they're doing so well, said McGhee.

"I know Micky Adams well and I will talk to him about the job - I'm open-minded and, of course, I'm interested.

"I know that part of the country having managed Wolves and I'm looking around for opportunities.

"It's not just a case of going for every job, it's important to go for the right fit - I want to look people in the eye and say 'I really want to do this job'."

Former Motherwell manager McGhee has had had spells south of the border managing Reading, Leicester City, Wolves, Millwall and Brighton.

He faces competition for the Vale job from another former Motherwell manager Jim Gannon, ex-Carlisle manager Neil McDonald, former Bristol Rovers manager Paul Trollope and two more un-named candidates.

Darren Ferguson, recently sacked by Preston, and the former Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton are also understood to have applied for the post.

Meanwhile, Walsall have sacked manager Chris Hutchings and his assistant Martin O'Connor. The Saddlers are currently bottom of League One, eight points from safety following the 4-1 defeat at Peterborough on Monday. Head of youth Dean Smith has taken temporary charge while the Saddlers find a replacement for Hutchings, who took the helm at the Banks's Stadium in January 2009.