Stoke City sack Mark Hughes after FA Cup upset at the hands of Coventry to end five-year reign

Stoke City have sacked Mark Hughes in the wake of his side’s FA Cup third round exit at the hands of Coventry City and a dreadful run of league form which has seen the club slip into the relegation zone.

The Potters had considered dismissing the Welshman after their recent 1-0 defeat to Newcastle but thought better of it given the paucity of available managers with Premier League experience.

Jack Grimmer’s second-half winner at the Ricoh Arena was the final straw though, with away fans turning on Hughes yet again; a sign of the anger with Stoke’s slide throughout 2017 where they have won just two of their last 13 games in all competitions.

The decision ends Hughes's five-year reign at the club, in which he achieved three ninth-placed finishes in a row before ending last season in 13th and continuing to show a lack of progress this season.

Two of the managers Stoke are keenest to speak to are Huddersfield’s David Wagner and Sean Dyche at Burnley, but neither are understood to be interested in leaving their respective clubs in mid-season and likely not for a club below them in the relegation fight.

Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is the bookmakers’ favourite but it would be a surprise to sources with knowledge of the Coates family’s thinking if the Italian were to actually take over at the Bet365 Stadium.

There is a belief amongst the Stoke hierarchy that they boast a talented squad with players like Xherdan Shaqiri, Joe Allen and Jese who wouldn’t be out of place playing for a top-six club.

But some big signings have failed to establish themselves with club-record signing Giannelli Imbula already been shipped out on loan while Saido Berahino, another significant signing, has also failed to find form since moving to the Potteries.