[1] A run of six defeats resulted in a surprise resignation from manager Micky Adams on 18 September, and his assistant Rob Page took his place in the hot seat.

[7] The third arrival was winger Mark Marshall, who had spent the latter half of the previous campaign with Coventry City after serving a two-year ban for taking performance-enhancing drugs.

[10] Adams looked at a number of players on trial over the summer, including: Michael O’Connor, Steve Jennings, Javan Vidal, and Sylvestre Guyonet.

[15] Vale opened the season with a 1–1 draw at home to Walsall, with young goalkeeper Sam Johnson being favoured ahead of Chris Neal.

[19] Their unbeaten start to the season came to an end with a 2–0 home defeat to Notts County, with the Vale unable to turn round a 1–0 half-time deficit despite a strong attacking performance in the second half.

[21] However, Adams went on to bemoan defensive errors as Chesterfield left Burslem with a 2–1 win following a bad-tempered encounter upon Daniel Jones's return to Vale Park.

[25] A trip to London Road opened September for Vale, and Adams changed the team following the run of defeats, but league leaders Peterborough United proved too strong as they ran out 3–1 winners.

[31] His first game in charge saw the Vale beat Barnsley 2–1, Mark Marshall providing a deserved late winner with a mazy penalty box run.

[32] At Bradford City former Valiant Billy Knott gave away a penalty which was converted by Chris Lines, but a Mark Yeates free kick just before half-time levelled the scores.

[33] The defence was then bolstered with the signings of two loanee players: Guadeloupe international Stéphane Zubar from Bournemouth, and 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Reiss Greenidge from West Bromwich Albion.

[41] Ironically a few days later Scunthorpe then came to Burslem, as did the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo, and the game ended 2–2 despite the Vale leading 2–1 and facing ten men after former player Jennison Myrie-Williams was sent off.

[46] Vale opened November with three points at Colchester United; Neal saved a first-half penalty before Marshall and Daniel secured the goals in a 2–1 win.

[54] Another two long-term prospects were then added in the form of Ghana youth international Enoch Andoh, who signed an 18-month contract, and former Manchester City striker Alex Nimely.

[59] The visitors on Boxing Day were Sheffield United, who were defeated 2–1 after referee Stuart Attwell sent off "Blades" defender Chris Basham and later gave Vale a penalty.

[63] Going forward Page managed to adequately cover for the continuing absence of Pope by playing Ben Williamson as a lone striker supported by Louis Dodds in a central attacking midfield role.

[69] Pope stayed put throughout the remainder of the transfer window, instead it was N'Guessan who departed, whilst Tommy O'Sullivan and Greg Luer arrived on loan.

[70] Vale twice came from behind at home to Bradford on 7 February, Campion scoring the first equalizer before City goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was sent off in stoppage time for bringing down Birchall; O'Connor converted the resulting penalty.

[74] A second clean sheet followed in a 3–0 home win over Doncaster Rovers, as both Veseli and Moore opened their accounts with the club to complete the double over "Donny".

[83] On deadline loan deal day, Page made a triple signing: Portuguese winger Francisco Júnior (Everton), Scottish defender Neill Collins (Sheffield United), and Senegalese attacker Mohamed Coulibaly (Bournemouth).

[86] Five changes were made for the trip to Rochdale, but a stoppage time goal from former Valiant Calvin Andrew condemned Vale to a sixth-successive defeat.

[94] Star striker Tom Pope chose to leave the club, rejecting an offer of a 50% pay cut in favour of a move to newly promoted Bury.

[107] Smurthwaite cancelled an expensive arranged loan deal for an unnamed Premier League player in March after being disappointment with low home attendances; he stated "I feel like I am banging my head against a brick wall with it all.

[111] Their Second Round opponents were newly relegated Championship side Cardiff City, who ran out 3–2 victors with former Manchester United striker Federico Macheda marking his debut with a brace; the highlight for Vale was a 40 yards (37 m) goal from Michael O'Connor.