issue was finally resolved on 19 January, and he left Stockport by mutual consent to sign for Port Vale on a two and a half-year contract. During this period he also held informal talks with Dario Gradi's Crewe Alexandra. In March 2009 Owen picked up an ankle injury, which kept him out of action for the rest of the season. During the downtime he spent time working on his coaching badges and helping Ray Williams on scouting duties. A key part of the back three in 2009–10, Owen scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 home win over Grimsby Town on 5 September. He was transfer listed in late September, along with the entire Port Vale squad, after manager Micky Adams saw his team slip to a third consecutive defeat. A key member of the Vale defence, after breaking his cheekbone he once again donned a custom-made protective face mask. He also was forced to take a few weeks on the sidelines in order to undergo surgery, though he made a speedy recovery. A muscle problem in his lower back meant he was forced to undergo sugar injections to keep playing during the latter half of the season. At the end of the season he announced that he wished to extend his Port Vale career beyond summer 2011. He started the 2010–11 season as a key member of the Vale defence. When his former boss Jim Gannon arrived as Vale's new manager in January 2011, Owen insisted that 'what's done is done', and there was speculation that Gannon would make Owen captain. However the following month he was sidelined after fracturing his left ankle in a 1–1 draw with Wycombe Wanderers. This 'fracture' in fact turned out to be severe bruising, leaving Owen a much shorter recovery time. In April 2011, he began contract talks on a new two-year deal. However the new contract meant taking a pay cut, whilst Crewe Alexandra and Burton Albion both expressed an interest in the defender. Before he made his decision he was awarded with the Chairman's Player of the Year award. He decided to sign a two-year deal with Crewe Alexandra, citing unrest at Vale Park as one of his motivations for switching clubs. However, once he discovered Micky Adams was returning as manager he reversed his decision and put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the "Valiants"