Ryan Lloyd would be open for a permanent return to Chester FC next season if his long-term future is deemed not to lie at Port Vale.

Energetic midfielder Lloyd, 22, was a first-team regular for the Blues after arriving on loan from League One Vale in late November and put in a number of eye-catching displays.

Lloyd is out of contract at Vale Park and will find out his fate next week, but says a return to Chester would be of interest next season.

"I loved my time at Chester and I'd be happy to come back if things didn't work out at Vale," said Lloyd.

"Obviously, I would like to stay at Vale as it is where I have been all of my life and I'm a local lad. But if I am to leave then I'd be really interested in coming back as the squad there is a great bunch of lads and Macca (Jon McCarthy) has been really good for me."

Ryan Lloyd in action for Port Vale
Ryan Lloyd in action for Port Vale

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Lloyd says that the logical choice for the next Blues boss would be McCarthy, with the midfielder believing the club benefitted from his back-to-basics approach towards the end of the season as he guided them to National League safety.

"When I first arrived we played really open football but we never seemed to get the results," said Newcastle-under-Lyme-born Lloyd.

"We lacked a bit of organisation I think and Macca brought us that. We went back to basics and it brought us three excellent results and made sure we stayed up.

"The team last season underachieved massively. There are some really talented lads in that squad and they just needed a bit of guidance. I think that if Macca gets the job and they keep the squad together then they could have a good season. Who knows, I might be back for it."