Barnsley assistant manager Dane Murray has become a potential candidate for the vacant managerial position at Port Vale, journalist Pete O'Rourke has revealed.

Vale are on the hunt for a new manager after sacking John Askey, with the club currently 18th in the League Two table, after failing to win any of their last six games.

Now it seems as though a possible new contender to take over from Askey at Vale Park has emerged.

According to this latest update from O'Rourke, Murray is now one of those in contention to be named as the Valiants new manager.

Murray previously managed Mansfield between November 2014 and November 2016, winning 32 of his 103 games in charge of the Stags.

The now-39-year-old also had a spell in charge at non-league Boston United, before joining Barnsley in the summer of 2018, earning the assistant manager's role a year later.

Since his move to Oakwell, the former midfielder has twice had caretaker spells in charge of the Tykes, drawing six and losing two of his eight games in charge.

The Verdict

This may not be a bad appointment for Port Vale.

Murray does have a reasonably solid record as a manager, so he could help to arrest the club's slide and keep them away from the League Two relegation zone at the very least.

Indeed, while he may not have won during his time in charge of Barnsley, the side's results and performances under him were admirable in the circumstances, which is encouraging.

You also wonder whether Murray could now be keen on a return to management after a period behind the scenes, meaning this could be an appointment that suits both parties.