Stoke City

Stoke City
Stoke's Icelandic owners have put their shares in the club up for sale. The Reykjavik-based consortium have had a majority 60% stake in the club since November 1999 but say selling up could take more than a year to complete. Earlier this week, Stoke Holdings chairman Magnus Kristinsson said he would not give the club any money while Tony Pulis was still Potters boss. But club chairman Gunnar Gislason said on Thursday: "Tony will continue to have the full support of directors." He added: "Stoke Holding have indicated that potential buyers must exhibit the financial strength to continue to improve the club. "Stoke Holding will continue to financially support the club until a sale has been completed, a process which will take a number of months and even go beyond the end of next season.

Pulis keen for Stoke investment
Stoke boss Tony Pulis is hoping any new investors in the club can help fund a challenge for the play-offs. With the Potteries club put up for sale by their Icelandic owners, Pulis hopes a change could provide investment to help make that next step up. Pulis told BBC Sport: "We just need a little bit more investment in the team and bring our wage budget up. "We need to compete with a few other clubs just to give us the opportunity to maybe get in the top six." Pulis said he was certain Stoke could hold their own in the Premiership. "We have the facilities and a beautiful stadium which holds 28,000 and we would definitely be competitive crowd-wise in the Premiership as I think we would sell out every week," he said. Stoke qualify as sleeping giants, a club with a long and proud history and a large and loyal fan base in the middle of a sizeable catchment area, but with a recent history of under-achievement. But the former Bournemouth, Gillingham, Portsmouth and Bristol City boss is not complaining about the task at the Britannia Stadium. "You're dealt your hand and you have to make the best of it," he said. He was given some tough cards during a season which saw Stoke top of the table in September and in touch of the play-offs for much of the season. Pulis won the Championship manager of the month award in February, only to have his top striker Adi Akinbiyi sold - a tough blow that he takes philosophically. "We sold Akinbiyi for £600,000 when we were in a good position ourselves but we never replaced him," he said. "You have to understand the club and where the directors are coming from and I'm not going to criticise them. "The vast majority of football club directors and chairmen put their own money into clubs. "The directors have stuck a lot of money in and now realise and recognise that it might cost a lot more to make that next step up, which is the biggest one. "Did selling Akinbiyi hit our play-off hopes? I don't think it helped. "But we took him from Palace on a free transfer and to make £600,000 in such a short period on a player who was 31 is a great deal and I wouldn't criticise the club for accepting that deal one bit." Pulis is not a man for regrets, but if an opportunity was squandered this season, he would not want it to happen again. "The owners have done a fantastic job in their six years at the club," he said. "When I took over, we were struggling in the Championship but we managed to survive on the last day of the season. "Over the last two years we've established ourselves in the Championship in the top half of the table. "It's time to make the next step, but that one is the biggest step."

Hill knee surgery shock for Stoke
Stoke defender Clint Hill could be out of action for up to nine months after being told he requires knee surgery. The 26-year-old, who suffered cruciate ligament damage at Plymouth in April, had hoped rest would heal the problem. But Hill will now undergo an operation when he returns from his honeymoon next month and he is set to miss at least the first half of next season. Meanwhile, boss Tony Pulis is keen to sign Southampton striker Kenwyne Jones on a permanent basis. Jones had a successful loan spell at the Britannia Stadium, but fellow loan players Michael Ricketts and Chris Clarke will not be returning to Stoke.

Greenacre is released by Potters
Striker Chris Greenacre, 27, has been released by Stoke after making 75 league appearances in three seasons since joining from Mansfield. Also released are young professionals Jermaine Palmer, Richard Keogh and Jay Denny - who have made just four first-team appearances between them. However, Potters boss Tony Pulis has offered new contracts to defenders Gerry Taggart and Wayne Thomas. Also offered new terms are keeper Ed de Goey and striker Gifton Noel-Williams.

Striker Palmer makes Grimsby move
Grimsby Town have signed Stoke City striker Jermaine Palmer on one-year deal at Blundell Park. Palmer, 18, had limited opportunities with the Potters and only played once for the senior side last term. Grimsby manager Russell Slade told the club website: "He came earlier in the season for us to have a look at him and he impressed us then. "He then came back towards the end of the season and he had improved again and I'm sure there is more to come."

Striker Asaba set to leave Stoke
Stoke City have agreed to a transfer request from striker Carl Asaba. The 32-year-old, who still has 12 months left on his contract, made only 15 starts for the Potters last season and nearly joined Coventry in March. Director of football John Rudge told the club website: "Carl has indicated that although he has a year left he would like to start afresh elsewhere. "We have given him the authority to see whether he can pursue his career elsewhere. He is available for a move."

Player quizzed over party fracas
Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has been questioned by police after a disturbance during a footballer's stag party at a Hertfordshire hotel. Police confirmed the player was quizzed after a guest was sprayed with a fire extinguisher at the Grove Hotel, Watford, at about 0250 BST on Monday. Stoke defender Michael Duberry and Millwall midfielder Jody Morris, whose stag party it was, were also quizzed. Herts Police said no-one was arrested in connection with the alleged assault. Officers said it was unclear who, if any, of the footballers were involved in the incident. A police spokeswoman said: "We were called to the Grove Hotel in Watford... to a report of a disturbance between a small number of residents. "Two police officers attended and spoke to the people involved. "A complaint of common assault has been alleged and reported as a result and police are currently investigating that. "The allegation is the victim was sprayed in the face with a fire extinguisher." Jody Morris married Louise Winstanley on Monday afternoon.

Thordarsson denies move for son
Notts County manager Gudjon Thordarsson has denied rumours he is to sign his son and Stoke City's 31-year-old midfielder Thordar Gudjonsson. "He has a year left on his contract with Stoke and he is not a player we can afford," said Thordarsson. "That is the bottom line, we cannot afford him here. We are working on a tight budget. "The link is one that was bound to come out as he is my son but he won't be coming here."

Shrewsbury sign midfielder Denny
Shrewsbury Town have signed teenage Stoke City midfielder Jay Denny. The 19-year-old has agreed a 12-month deal after impressing during a trial last season. Denny, who captains the USA under-20s, failed to make a senior appearance for Stoke but the Potters have included a sell-on clause in the move. "He is another bright, young player and it's nice to have a few like that," Shrews manager Gary Peters told his club's website.

Burnley complete move for Thomas
Burnley have signed Stoke defender Wayne Thomas on a three-year contract. The 26-year-old former Torquay United player has spent the last five years at the Britannia Stadium, where he made over 200 appearances for Stoke. Burnley boss Steve Cotterill said: "I'm delighted - he is a player I have liked for a long time. "He has good pace, he's strong, has good aerial ability and a good temperament. He could go on to play in the Premiership if he works hard."

Stoke man aims to return stronger
Stoke City defender Clint Hill has vowed to return a better player when he recovers from a serious knee injury. Hill, City's player of the year, faces up to nine months on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament problem that flared up in April. "I think I'll come out as a better person and a better player," the 26-year-old told Stoke's website. "My operation is pencilled in for 23 June so hopefully with a bit of luck I'll back be back before Christmas." Hill added: "At the moment I'm doing a lot of gym work to build up the muscles in my leg and get them stong before the operation. "That helps a lot with the recovery."

Thomas explains move to Burnley
Wayne Thomas has revealed Stoke did not offer him a deal until it was too late. The defender signed for Burnley on Wednesday revealed he would have stayed with Stoke if the club had made him feel wanted. "Towards the end I was made a few offers, but not until the very end," Thomas told the Sentinel newspaper. "I've got nothing against the manager, players or the club, it is just the people at the top. If they want to keep players they have to act quicker."

Reading complete double Cork deal
Reading have completed the signings of Cork City striker duo Kevin Doyle and Shane Long for an undisclosed fee. Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Doyle, 21, and Under-19 international Long, 18, have both signed two-year contracts. Royals director of football Nicky Hammond said: "I am confident Kevin will have a big impact on our Championship challenge next season. "Shane is a raw talent who we hope will reach his potential in his time here." Reading beat Stoke, Burnley and Charlton to the signature of Doyle, who has scored seven goals for Cork City this season. He signed off with a brace in his farewell appearance, a 2-0 win over Finn Harps on 6 June. Long made only a handful of appearances for Cork's first team, but will be eligible to play for Reading's youth academy next season. The director of Reading's academy is Eamon Dolan, brother of Pat Dolan, the manager who brought Doyle to Cork.

Noel-Williams signs Clarets deal
Stoke striker Gifton Noel Williams has joined Burnley on a two-year deal. The 25-year-old is Clarets boss Steve Cotterill's fourth summer signing and follows Ade Akinbiyi and Wayne Thomas in joining the club from the Potters. Noel-Williams, who scored 13 goals for Stoke in 2004/5, rejected their offer of a new deal at the end of last term. He started out at Watford, where he scored 41 goals in 193 appearances, before moving to the Britannia Stadium on a free transfer in June 2003.

Pulis ready for Potters challenge
Stoke manager Tony Pulis has described the next six weeks as the biggest period in his managerial career. With the club up for sale and the loss of senior players, the Potters boss is bracing himself for a tough time. He told BBC Radio Stoke: "The club's future is the most important issue and players want to know where we're going before they contemplate signing for us. "It would be nice to get it sorted out sooner rather than later, but it doesn't work like that here".

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