Collins joined Port Vale from Wolves, initially on loan, in 2008

Port Vale defender Lee Collins is urging his team-mates not to let their promotion dreams drift away.

Managerless Vale have slipped out of the League Two play-off positions with six games of the season remaining.

Collins told BBC Radio Stoke: "We have set our standards at the top end of the table all season, and it's now up to us to finish the job off.

"I hope the fans understand the whole squad are desperate to win a promotion. It would be brilliant for the club."

Vale's 2-0 defeat at Chesterfield was the first since caretaker manager Mark Grew took charge of the team after Jim Gannon was sacked in March.

Grew said: "Saturday's result makes the Southend game even bigger, but we've effectively got six cup finals coming up.

"We've got a difficult run-in having to go to Stevenage and Torquay, although we feel games against the likes of Stockport, Morecambe and Barnet are winnable. We've just got to go to places like Stevenage and get something."

The Vale boss will be hoping that midfielder Doug Loft and defender Gareth Owen will be fit to resume training on Wednesday, and then be available for selection to face Southend United on Saturday.

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