Defender Gareth Owen unsure of future at Port Vale

Gareth Owen recently passed a century of appearances for Port Vale

Out-of-contract defender Gareth Owen is unsure whether he will remain at Port Vale beyond the end of the season.

Owen, 28, has been verbally offered a contract by Vale, but he is also believed to be the subject of interest from Vale's local rivals Crewe.

"There's a two-year contract waiting for me but I haven't seen it in writing," Owen told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I can't come out and say I'm definitely going to be here next year because I honestly don't know."

The former Stockport captain continued: "I want to see what's happening with the manager and I've also been told that no contracts will be sorted until the new manager is in charge.

"I think I'm well within my rights to wait and see. It's not a decision that I'm going to make lightly.

"There's not just me to think about, there's my family as well and I've got to make sure I'm still earning some money come next year.

"I'll make a decision what's best for me, whether that's with Crewe or whether that's with someone else.

"It's nice to be wanted, I'm flattered with their interest, because as a footballer you want to be wanted. I haven't made a decision one way or the other yet."

Owen has made 101 appearances since joining Vale on loan in November 2008, a move that was made permanent two months later.

Adam Yates, Doug Loft, Kris Taylor, Ritchie Sutton and Gary Roberts are also out of contract in the summer.

Louis Dodds and Justin Richards both scored hat-tricks as the Valiants defeated Morecambe 7-2 in their final home game of the season.

Mathematically, Mark Grew's side can still make the League Two play-offs.

However, to do so they need to beat Barnet on the final day, both Stevenage and Gillingham would have to lose, and there would need to be a 11-goal swing due to Vale's vastly inferior goal difference.