Mark Robins has been appointed as Stoke’s manager on a three-and-a-half-year contract. The 55-year-old was sacked in November by Coventry and will not be involved in Stoke’s game at Burnley on Wednesday before taking charge for the first time at home to Plymouth on Saturday.

Robins spent just over seven and a half years at Coventry and oversaw two promotions to reach the Championship. His team lost the 2022-23 Championship playoff final on penalties to Luton and were beaten in a shootout by Manchester United in last season’s FA Cup semi-finals.

Robins takes over from Narcís Pelach, who was sacked last Friday after 19 games, and is Stoke’s third manager of the season, Steven Schumacher having been dismissed in mid-September. Ryan Shawcross continues in caretaker charge on Wednesday after overseeing a win at home to Sunderland that has left the club 18th.

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Stoke’s sporting director, Jon Walters, said: “At Coventry, Mark built something successful with a real identity and longevity and he left the club in a significantly better place than he found it.

“That’s exactly what we want to achieve at Stoke City, and he has all the pedigree and experience to help us do that. With a record like that behind him, Mark was always going to be in great demand, so we’re delighted that he sees an exciting opportunity to build something special in the Potteries.”

Robins will be assisted by Paul Nevin and James Rowberry, assistants respectively with England’s under-20s and the Wales senior team.