A regional daily has made a front page plea for a football owner to sell the club he runs after he threatened to put it into administration.

The Sentinel, Stoke-on-Trent, splashed on Monday on its call for Port Vale FC owner Norman Smurthwaite to “do what is right” after he announced he would not put any more money into the club after 5 May.

The Sentinel has previously found itself on the receiving end of a ban from the press box at the Burslem-based club’s Vale Park home ground during Mr Smurthwaite’s tenure.

Supporters have protested about the current running of the club during recent games.

Martin Tideswell, editor of The Sentinel and its Stoke-on-Trent Live sister website, told HTFP: “Sadly Port Vale Football Club once again finds itself in a position where its future seems to be in doubt – for the third time in less than 20 years.

“The comments over the weekend by Port Vale owner Norman Smurthwaite which warned of the club being placed into administration in May if a buyer was not found sparked outrage and caused huge upset and anxiety locally.

“These comments came out of the blue and also included criticism of concerned supporters who have quite legitimately been protesting against the current owner at recent home and away games.

“The reality is that there is no need for Mr Smurthwaite to place the club into administration in May – or to cause concern for employees, suppliers, the fanbase and the wider community – because there is at least one serious bid to buy the club on the table from the owners of a respected local company.”

Added Martin: “”Port Vale FC is a heritage brand here in Stoke-on-Trent. It is beloved by thousands of people and is a vital part of the local economy – the heart of the Potteries Mother Town of Burslem.

“The Sentinel and Stoke-on-Trent Live have been incredibly reasonable and circumspect in recent years in the face of some unfair and unwarranted criticism and provocation from Mr Smurthwaite – which included the banning of our Port Vale reporter from the press box.

“On Monday, however, we chose to make a statement with our front page and I am pleased to say the feedback from readers and Vale supporters has been overwhelmingly positive.

“As we did when its survival was threatened six years ago, The Sentinel and Stoke-on-Trent Live will work to try to help Port Vale in any way possible in order to avoid what would be an entirely avoidable hammer blow to the local economy.”

Vale are currently engaged in a battle to stay in League Two, English football’s fourth highest level, with seven games to play of the remaining season.

Port Vale’s chief executive Colin Garlick, who has been instructed by Mr Smurthwaite to deal with interested parties, told The Sentinel: “I am talking to prospective buyers and I am very optimistic.”