Pope joined Rotherham from Crewe in 2009

Rotherham striker Tom Pope says he would like to stay at Port Vale when his month-long loan at Vale Park ends.

The 25-year-old, a boyhood Vale fan, scored his first goals for the Valiants in Friday's 2-1 win over Bradford.

"I want to stay here," Pope told BBC Radio Stoke. "I've got a smile back, the lads are brilliant and the fans have been brilliant with me.

"I can't see any reason why I would want to leave. All I can do is keep playing and doing my best to impress."

Vale manager Jim Gannon added: "Tom's justified us working really hard to keep him because he does add something to the team.

"The chairman (Bill Bratt) is keen to support me in keeping Tom and I think everyone would want that.

"But sometimes the decision is out of your hands because he's a Rotherham player and Rotherham might feel it's within their rights to bring him back.

"That would be a shame for the lad unless he's going in there to play football."

Pope became Rotherham's record signing when he joined for £150,000 from Crewe Alexandra in the summer of 2009.

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