Francis to coach Potters?

Gerry Francis is being lined up to coach the Potters and has been offered a part time role amid reports that Newcastle are also trying to secure his services.

The former Spurs and QPR manager has been out of the game since managing Bristol Rovers in 2001 but now seems to be in great demand with Newcastle’s caretaker boss, Joe Kinnear also trying to get Francis to move up to Tyneside.

But Stoke seem confident of landing Francis and he travelled with Tony Pulis on the team coach to Portsmouth yesterday (complete with mullet hairdo and club tie) and you’d certainly think that spending two days a week at the Brit is definitely preferable to two days a week at the north east’s top comedy club.