Stoke confirm Pulis is new manager

Stoke City have today finally announced that Tony Pulis is the new manager of the club.

The Potters broke the news as protracted negotiations with his current employers, Plymouth Argyle and then contract negotiations with Pulis were finally resolved earlier today.

Tony Pulis is still on holiday in Portugal and will therefore not be making a personal appearance at the Britannia Stadium until he returns at the end of the week, but Stoke City said that they wanted to end the speculation at the earliest opportunity.

Fans have mixed views on the start of the second term of office for the 48 year old Welshman, but the club were insisting that his style of play (generally goalless draws) was dictated by the budget and constraints placed on him by the previous Icelandic owners. New Chairman, Peter Coates feels that this time around Pulis has a sensible budget to work with, which will allow the club more room for manoeuvre in the market for new players and allow the manager to be more adventurous on the pitch.

It would now appear to be very likely that John Rudge will also formally return to his role as Director of Football, working alongside Tony Pulis. The two men got on very well before and it is to be hoped that this coming season can be marked by an end to the back room squabbles between Board and Management that have characterised the last three years at the Brit.