Stoke City

Pulis not hopeful over Jones deal
Stoke boss Tony Pulis is not hopeful of brining Southampton striker Kenwyne Jones back to the club next season. The Trinidad & Tobago international, 20, scored three goals in a 13-game loan spell at Stoke last season. But after holding talks with Saints manager Harry Redknapp, Pulis told BBC Radio Stoke: "I'm not optimistic I can pull off a deal. "His club are uncertain what is going to happen with their main strikers, Peter Crouch and Kevin Phillips." Jones joined Southampton last summer, but has started just one Premiership game. However, he enjoyed successful loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday - where he scored seven goals in seven games - and Stoke.

Stoke sign Gills striker Sidibe
Stoke City have signed out-of-contract Gillingham striker Mamady Sidibe on a two-year deal. The 25-year-old moves for nothing and is set to mark the start of the Potters team strengthening over the summer. "We are delighted to sign him," Stoke's director of football John Rudge told the club's website. "He is still a young, improving player who we feel has lots of potential. He is a big strong forward and we see him as an excellent acquisition." The Mali international made 36 appearances for Gillingham last season - and Rudge revealed there is more to come. "This is not the end because we are still looking to bring in another couple of forwards as well."

Pulis delighted at Sidibe signing
Stoke boss Tony Pulis said they beat off stiff competition to sign Gillingham striker Mamady Sidibe. "There was interest from Leicester and Gillingham actually offered him more money to stay," Pulis told the club's official website. "But he chose Stoke City because he likes the feel of the place and he really wants to do well here. "His attitude is fantastic. He came here for two days and had a good look around before signing."

Stoke's Hill to undergo surgery
Stoke defender Clint Hill will undergo surgery to cure a cruciate knee ligament problem. Hill, 26, damaged ligaments in April and faces the prospect of missing a large part of the coming season. After surgery, Hill will undergo rehabilitation at the Lilleshall Sports Injury Centre with a target of a Christmas return. Former Tranmere defender Hill is likely to be the only player missing when the Potters return to pre-season training

Manager Pulis is sacked by Stoke
Stoke City have sacked manager Tony Pulis, claiming he has failed to exploit the foreign transfer market. The 47-year-old Welshman took Stoke to 12th in the Championship last season after once topping the table. Chairman Gunnar Por Gislason said: "Despite all the good work he has done, he has failed to implement the strategy of exploiting foreign markets. "It is felt we will again fail to exploit those markets this summer with him in control." Pulis has seen a number of departures in the close season, with only striker Mamady Sidibe arriving from Gillingham. A lack of goals saw the Potters fall away from the top of the table early on to eventually finish a disappointing 12th, but his departure is still a major surprise.

Pulis not surprised by dismissal
Sacked Stoke boss Tony Pulis hopes the Potters do not come to regret their decision to fire him. Pulis was sacked by the Potters just two weeks after signing a new contract at the Britannia stadium. But Pullis told BBC Radio Stoke: "I've been in the game since I was 16 and nothing surprises you any more. "I'm obviously disappointed but the chairman has decided to go in a different way and I hope he's made the right decision." Former Holland World Cup star Johan Boskamp is expected to be named as Pulis's successor. Pulis added: "The most important thing is the club and that it pushes on to get things sorted out before the start of the season. "I took the club over and honestly believed that with the right backing we could get into the Premiership." During the last two season, Pulis guided Stoke to 10th and 12th place - despite having sold top scorer Adi Akinbiyi last season. "We sold our top scorer and never replaced him," said Pulis who was named Championship manager of the month last Ferbruary. "The new manager will inherit a good set of lads with a lot of character in the dressing-room, but he will need to add to the squad."

Boskamp named as new Stoke boss
Stoke have announced Dutchman Johan Boskamp as their new manager to replace Tony Pulis. Boskamp, 56, was a member of Holland's 1978 World Cup squad, and has wide coaching experience. As well as coaching Belgian side Anderlecht and Genk, Boskamp has coached the Georgian national team and worked in the Middle East. Pulis was dismissed on Tuesday, two months after signing a new two-year deal with the Potters. Pulis's dismissal came as a surprise to many Stoke fans, but his departure has ended any possibility of director Peter Coates mounting a takeover bid for the club. Coates launched a bid to take over the club, with the condition that Pulis remained in charge. Stoke's Icelandic owners took a pre-emptive strike by dismissing Pulis. Director of football John Rudge hopes to stay on with the Potters but assistant manager Lindsay Parsons and first-team coach Dave Kemp will both leave the club. Boskamp brings fellow Dutchman, Jan de Koning, to the Britannia Stadium as his assistant. Stoke chairman Gunnar Por Gislason believes new boss Boskamp can succeed where he thinks Pulis failed. Gislason said: "In the past two or three years we have not been able to attract foreign players as much as we would have liked. "We are hoping that Mr Boskamp, with his experience and knowledge of foreign markets, especially in Holland and Belgium, can bring players to this club that can be something for the supporters to look forward to seeing."

Boskamp will have cash at Stoke
New Stoke boss Johan Boskamp has been told he will have cash to bring new faces to the club. But the Dutchman will resist temptation to splash out immediately in order to assess the current squad. Boskamp told Stoke's website: "The chairman told me I have a budget and that I may have a little bit more. "But first I need to get to know my players and they will realise if they are part of the plans or not in a few weeks time."

Stoke snap up midfielder Sweeney
Johan Boskamp has completed his first signing since taking over as Stoke boss with the capture of Millwall midfielder Peter Sweeney on a three-year deal. Sweeney, 20, played more than 50 league games for Millwall, who had also offered him a three-year deal. "We're delighted to get him. He is a young player with plenty of potential and his best years ahead of him," said City's director of football John Rudge. "He did well with Millwall last season proving he can compete at this level." Sweeney, who joined the Lions as a trainee in August 2001, is a Scotland Under-21 international. Sweeney is Stoke's second signing of the summer following Mamady Sidibe's arrival from League One outfit Gillingham.

De Goey signs new deal with Stoke
Stoke City goalkeeper Ed de Goey has signed an extension to his contract, according to new manager Johan Boskamp. The former Chelsea player, 37, is believed to have penned a one-year deal and will battle with Steve Simonson for a starting place. De Goey won 31 caps for Holland and played over 100 games in the Premiership for the Blues. Newly-promoted West Ham were understood to be trying to bring the keeper to Upton Park.

Kristinsson cash to boost Potters
Stoke City's largest investor, Magnus Kristinsson, has said that he will be putting his money back into the club now Tony Pulis has been sacked as boss. Kristinsson had said he would not give the club any more cash while Pulis was in charge, because he had not signed enough foreign players. Kristinsson told BBC Radio Stoke: "I`m very happy that Tony Pulis has left. "I support chairman Gunnar Gislason's decision to appoint Dutchman Johan Boskamp in his place." Stoke sacked Pulis last week for not exploiting the foreign transfer market. Last season, the club's Icelandic owners had put the club up for sale when Kristinsson withdrew his financial support - but he says that will change now Boskamp has replaced Pulis. Boskamp has since made Millwall midfielder Peter Sweeney his first signing.

Boskamp chasing Anderlecht duo
Stoke boss Johan Boskamp is trying to sign two Anderlecht players, playmaker Walter Baseggio and Burkina Faso defender Lamine Traore. Baseggio would prefer a move to Italy or Spain, but former Anderlecht boss Boskamp is hoping to persuade the midfielder to change his mind. Boskamp also fears the signing of Traore could be scuppered by obtaining a work permit for the defender. Boskamp told the Stoke Sentinel: "The problem is can we get a work permit." The new Stoke boss added: "I know Walter Baseggio because I put him in the team at Anderlecht. I am sure he would like to come, but his agent tells him he will take him to Italy or Spain. "But Anderlecht told me that, at the moment, it is only us and Charleroi interested. The Anderlecht manager will have a talk with him and let me know."

Stoke facing urgent player search
Director of football John Rudge reckons the change of manager at Stoke has left them short of time to find new players. Johan Boskamp replaced Tony Pulis the day before pre-season training started and Rudge said: "We need a few players, at least five or six. "I'm trying to help Johan as much as I possibly can but we have to do a lot of things in a short space of time. "Tony was looking for the players he wanted for next season. Obviously all that has gone a bit out of the window." Stoke have brought in striker Mamade Sidiby, from Gillingham, and Millwall midfielder Peter Sweeney this summer. But Sidibe was signed prior to the departure of Boskamp and the Sweeney deal coincided with his arrival at the club. And Rudge admits that the timing of the appointment of Boskamp - and his assistant Jan de Koning - took him by surprise. "We have had a change of manager in the last two weeks and obviously that is something that has to be bedded in," Rudge added. "The timing of that was a little difficult and strange because it happened a day before we started pre-season training. "He has come in and made a very good impression but it will take him a bit of time to get his feet under the table. "Johan is looking for what he wants to bring in but it is at a late stage, which makes it quite difficult." Rudge has compared the situation to the arrival of former manager Gudjon Thordarson in November 1999. Rudge was director of football, joining the club along with manager Gary Megson in May of that year, and was uncertain of his future when Thordarson took over. "Gudjon asked me whether I would stay and I did and we got promotion after missing out twice through the play-offs." said Rudge, who spent 19 years as Port Vale manager prior moving to Stoke. "It is probably a bit more difficult this time because of the timing. "I asked Johan whether he wanted me to stay, which is important to me. "I'm here to help him, take all the rubbish off him and let him concentrate on the team. "Johan is very jovial and knows what he wants on the football field. He will give that continental flavour to it, passing and keeping the ball, but he will look to adjust as quickly as possible to the English game."

Sweeney sidelined for Stoke start
Stoke new boy Peter Sweeney will miss the start of the season after fracturing the base of his back. The 20-year-old suffered the injury after just 15 minutes of the friendly against Newcastle Town and is expected to be sidelined for up to three months. The former Millwall midfielder said he was "gutted" on hearing the news after initially harbouring hopes of playing in Friday's friendly at Shrewsbury. On the plus side, Kevin Harper and John Eustace are nearing playing returns.

Potters reject offers for Clarke
Stoke City have turned down a brace of bids for captain Clive Clarke. Burnely tabled £125,000 for the 25-year-old midfielder while Premiership new boys Sunderland proposed a £100,000 deal. "Obviously the manager (Johan Boskamp) has got to assess the players so we've turned down the offers," said director of football John Rudge said. "He's an Irish international and the offers made are substantially less than the player is worth."

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