Vale relegation looking more certain - Brady

Jon Brady points out some instructions from the touchline during a Port Vale matchGetty Images

Despite the struggles in League One, Jon Brady has steered Port Vale to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after beating Premier League Sunderland

Port Vale boss Jon Brady said it is "probably looking more certain" that the club will be relegated back to League Two but repeated his promise that he and players "will never give up".

Vale are 14 points adrift of safety at the bottom of League One and, barring a remarkable run of form, are set for an immediate return to the fourth tier after wining promotion last season.

Since replacing Darren Moore in early January with the club 10 points from safety, Vale have taken 10 points from a possible 36 under Brady, averaging fewer than a point per game.

The latest frustration came against Blackpool on Tuesday when they led twice only to lose 3-2, a result Brady described as a "real kicker".

"We knew the challenge when we took over that the points return was nowhere near what you need to try and survive and up until [Blackpool] we're nearly a point per game and now it's just we've just dropped off that.

"But if we get a win on Saturday [against Bolton] we could be back at a point per game."

Vale have scored 28 goals in their 35 league games - the lowest in League One - and 10 in 12 matches under Brady.

The Australian knows that is a big reason why they are in the position they are.

"We haven't scored enough goals for us to stay in the division and that's been a massive problem," he said.

Nevertheless, the 50-year-old said the desire to give everything to stay will never stop.

"Not for me no because it's the job I'm here to do and the belief has been there to try to stay up.

"[It's] probably looking more certain that we won't. I'm a realist in that respect but I'll never give up and the players will never give up.

"When you're in professional sport you have to dust yourself down and you have to get ready to go again and prepare your players to go and win the game and that's what we try to do every single time.

"We haven't won enough games, we haven't scored enough goals this season and all we're trying to do is improve performance and be more competitive I feel we've done that but the one thing is you want to pick up results."