Hoefkens: I’m not leaving

Carl Hoefkens has revealed that he has turned down three offers to return to Belgium.

Voted ‘Player of the Season’ in May by both the Fans and players, the reliable defender who played in 49 games last season has also given a vote of confidence in the new manager after meeting him for the first time last week. He said: ‘There were three clubs in the top league in Belgium who expressed an interest in me after my performances for the national side, but I am happy at Stoke.

‘I don’t want to go back to Belgium. I want to stay here and push for promotion.

‘Everything is going just as I would want it to, and I don’t see any reason why I should move. Money is not the most important thing.’

He also gave his backing to Coates and Pulis: ‘We just need consistency and that is something that comes with Peter Coates, who is a big fan of the club, and Tony Pulis, who knows how to make a good team in the Championship.’