TOM Pope has appealed to Stoke City fans to back Port Vale's fight for survival.
As a life-long Vale fan, the 26-year-old striker has been hit harder than most by the club's spiral towards administration.
So he is urging sympathetic Stoke supporters to cross the Potteries divide tonight to watch the Valiants in action against Burton Albion at Vale Park (7.45pm).
Sneyd Green-born Pope said: "I'd welcome Stoke fans at tonight's game.
"I'm sure there'd be some who wouldn't like that, but in this situation it's all about communities coming together.
"Vale fans hate Stoke fans as much as they hate us, but if we don't survive they'll have nobody to have banter with.
"It's all about that rivalry, at work and at home, so both clubs need each other, even though one is in the Premier League and the other in League Two."
Pope himself is committed to staying put to help get Vale through the crisis ... but accepts other members of Micky Adams's squad may have to move on.
Having not been paid last week, some players may look elsewhere to ensure they can pay the bills.
Others may be forced to leave once the administrator begins to make the savings necessary to keep the club in business.
"I don't think anybody wants to leave as this is a great club and all the players get on with each other," said Pope.
"I'm happy here, but money doesn't grow on trees.
"I've been lucky in that my nan and other family members have helped me out a bit. But if you've got a young family and bills to pay then you need to put food on the table. We've got some decent players and I'm sure there will be clubs interested in taking them.
"So they're in the shop window and need to keep playing well because the majority of them are out of contract in the summer anyway.
"If they can get out of the club and get paid next month, then I'm sure a few of them may do that."
Adams's players have been in demand already, and the manager fears his squad will be ripped apart after receiving "a number of inquiries" about them.
There were also 35 scouts in attendance for Vale's 1-1 draw with Crewe Alexandra last week.
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Will you be at Vale tonight. Comment with your ideas.
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