vacant managerial role until club chair Carol Shanahan decided to instead appoint him to manage the club's football operations and to link the board of directors with the first-team. Flitcroft told the press that his targets would be to appoint a manager, improve player recruitment and to ensure the playing squad suffered less injuries. Darrell Clarke was appointed as manager seven days later and the club paid Walsall a compensation fee in order to sign him. Clarke and Flitcroft recruited 12 players for the start of the 2021–22 season: goalkeepers Lucas Covolan and Aidan Stone; defenders Lewis Cass, Ryan Johnson, Aaron Martin, Dan Jones and Mal Benning; midfielders Ben Garrity, Brad Walker and Tom Pett; and strikers Jamie Proctor and James Wilson. Nine players left the club in the January transfer window, whilst eight signings were made: goalkeeper Tomáš Holý (loan); defenders Connor Hall, Chris Hussey and Sammy Robinson; midfielders Joel Cooper (loan) and Harry Charsley; and strikers Kian Harratt and Ryan Edmondson (both on loan). Vale secured promotion with victory in the 2022 League Two play-off final. He helped to oversee seven permanent signings and six loan singings to prepare the club for League One in the 2022–23 season, whilst six first-team players were moved on. Style of management Flitcroft has been described as "creative... articulate, engaging and big on lateral thinking", citing Steve Jobs as an influence. He has high attention to detail and is not afraid to challenge upper management. He is flexible in his use of formations. He has a reputation for playing attractive football. He likes to create a family atmosphere at his clubs, motivating the dressing room by creating a close bond between players. Personal life His older brother is the former Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City player Garry Flitcroft. Younger brother, Steve, played for Accrington Stanley. The brothers ran a property development business with their father, John. He also has run a football academy in Bolton called FC Strikerz, which he set up in 2007 following the death of his father. He married Joanne. They have two sons, Billy and Bobby, who are both former Barnsley mascots. Career statistics Managerial statistics Honours As a player Awards Rochdale A.F.C. Player of the Year: 2002–03 Bury F.C. Player of the Year: 2005–06 Chester City Football League Third Division second-place promotion: 1993–94 As a manager Awards EFL League Two Manager of the Month: February 2014 EFL