Stoke City next manager latest as 'high calibre candidates declare interest'
Stoke City have already fielded ‘a lot of interest from high calibre’ candidates as they search for a new manager.
Stoke are hunting for a replacement for Narcis Pelach, who left after just three months as head coach on Friday night. Club legend and current under-21s boss Ryan Shawcross will take caretaker charge for today’s Championship home clash with Sunderland (3pm).
The bookies have made Mark Robins the early favourite, followed by Steve Cooper, Tony Mowbray and Russell Martin, and sporting director Jon Walters is confident that it is an attractive vacancy.
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Stoke have made their way through a conveyor belt of hopefuls since the wheels fell off under Mark Hughes seven years ago but chairman and owner John Coates remains determined to provide the infrastructure and backing to bring success.
Walters said: “It’s a Premier League outfit from the training ground to where John wants the club to be. The ambitions of the football club are sky high. It’s a hugely attractive proposition. A lot of coaches, agents and players know that as well.
“We’ve had a lot of interest already from high calibre people but the person who comes in has to understand what it takes to represent Stoke City.
“I know in my position, how privileged I am to represent the people of Stoke and this football club. It’s not easy to make decisions and you’re going to make mistakes along the way but we’ve got to back what we’re trying to do.
“Every decision I make is with Stoke City in my heart and in my head. People don’t always see what goes on behind the scenes and you can’t always elaborate on decisions that are made but every decision is in the best interests of Stoke City Football Club.”
Pelach had been first team coach at Huddersfield and Norwich as they reached the Championship play-off final and had been waiting for his first crack at being in charge in England.
He was brought in to replace Steven Schumacher in mid-September and had a long-term vision – but lost support to see it through as he won three of 18 matches, losing five of the last six.
Walters said: “It’s not an easy decision at all. Narcis is a very talented coach who embodies the work ethic and values of this football club. He worked exceptionally hard and just wanted to bring success to the team and the club. It hasn’t worked out the way he wanted it to and results and performances on the pitch have shown that.
“In my role I take responsibility for that as well because you’re trying to bring something to the club and give the team an identity and a way of playing or way of working that really shines through on the pitch. It’s a really difficult decision to make but one we feel is right now to get the season back on track.”
