Yates joined Vale on a free transfer from Morecambe in May 2009

Adam Yates believes the visit to Crewe on Saturday is among Port Vale's most important matches of the campaign.

The two teams are currently in the play-off places and fighting for promotion from League Two.

"It's a big game for the club and a massive game for the fans," Vale defender Yates told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I'm sure if you offered them three points away at Crewe at the start of the season, they would want them more than any other three points."

Yates began his career as a trainee at Crewe, as did team-mates Stuart Tomlinson, Ritchie Sutton and Gary Roberts.

Vale were 2-1 victors when the sides met at Vale Park in October, with Louis Dodds and Marc Richards scoring for the home side, who were then under the stewardship of Micky Adams.

Jim Gannon will take charge of a League Two game for the first time as manager of the Valiants on Saturday and Yates has been impressed with the changes that have already been implemented.

"He wants us to relax on the ball and that's something that we took on board on Saturday (in the FA Cup defeat at Burnley)," added Yates.

"We were quick to press and put them under pressure, but when we got the ball we tried to keep it a little bit more.

"If we can get that into our games, I'm sure we'll become a better side for it."

The 27-year-old is approaching the end of his contract with the club but said he would not be talking to Gannon about his future until the time is right.

"I would think he'll consult with Mark Grew and Geoff Horsfield and then he'll make his own decisions," he added. "It's not something I can go and speak to him about yet.

"I might do in a month or two, but I'm just going to concentrate on playing if I'm in the side.

"If you go chasing a contract, you're not going to get it. They usually come when you bide your time and that's what I'm going to do."

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