Port Vale defender Lawrence-Gabriel demands promotion push after relegation to League Two
Following a difficult season that ended with the club 10 points adrift of safety, the Merseyside side has set its sights on an immediate return to League One.
Port Vale defender Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel has publicly stated that the squad recognises the current campaign was insufficient following the club's relegation to League Two. The team finished 22nd in the league, sitting 10 points adrift of safety, prompting a clear directive from the dressing room to mount a serious challenge next term.
Lawrence-Gabriel told BBC Radio Stoke that things had not gone right this season, noting that both the players and the staff understand the critical importance of bouncing back. He emphasised that the focus must now shift to securing a return to League One for the 2026-27 season, describing the upcoming campaign as a really important one for the fans.
The poor run of form leading up to the end of the season was evident, with Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by champions Lincoln City marking the club's third loss in their final four games. This result contributed to a total of 24 losses this term, sealing the fate of a side that had been on course for relegation for most of the difficult campaign.
Manager Jon Brady, who took over after Darren Moore was sacked in December, has highlighted the necessity of upgrading the squad over the summer to improve their chances. Although Brady oversaw an outstanding run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, he could not revive the league form sufficiently to avoid the drop, leaving the club to face the reality of playing in the second tier.
Lawrence-Gabriel, who has one year remaining on his contract, expressed his personal ambition to play in League One next season. He stated that the players need to ensure their names are in the manager's mind to start pre-season training, suggesting that the club will be doing what it can to strengthen the roster if they can add quality.
The defender made it clear that players should not be at the club if they do not want to play at the highest level. While acknowledging the difficulty of the situation, he insisted that the team wants to get back to League One and be the best they can be, with his own ambition being to feature in the promotion push.
