Townsend set for Port Vale role

Townsend (left) has worked as a television pundit for several years

Port Vale are set to appoint former Republic of Ireland captain Andy Townsend as a football advisor.

Vale's main sponsors, Harlequin Property, have recruited the former Chelsea and Aston Villa midfielder as they prepare to invest £500,000.

The 46-year-old, who last played in 2000, is now a television pundit.

"As long as everyone knows what they're doing and he's not interfering in team selection, it won't be a problem," boss Micky Adams told BBC Radio Stoke.

"All he wants to do is help me with the process of bringing players into the club," Adams said.

"If they can help the club with money and contacts that can help me, it's a win-win situation for everybody."

Townsend's work with Harlequin Property involves setting up soccer schools at their Caribbean resorts.

Meanwhile, Adams is in negotiations over extending his current contract, which expires at the end of the campaign.

"It's an ongoing process and I wouldn't be doing my job if I wasn't looking at future years and looking at where we're going to take the football club," he said.