Favourites to become new Stoke City manager after sacking Steven Schumacher

Favourites to become new Stoke City manager after sacking Steven Schumacher following defeat to Oxford United at the weekend.

The Potters have waved goodbye to their head coach after less than 10 months in charge, having lost three of their opening five games of the 2024/25 season, winning the other two, sitting 13th in the Championship table.

Ryan Shawcross will now take charge of the first team on a caretaker basis, they take on Fleetwood in the Carabao Cup Third Round on Tuesday, then face Hull City on Friday night.

John Percy writes that Stoke have been given permission to speak with Norwich coach Narcis Pelach over the manager’s role.

He tweeted: “Stoke City are moving quickly after the dismissal of Steven Schumacher. Norwich have given Stoke permission to speak with first-team coach Narcis Pélach over the job. Pélach expected to take GK coach Paul Clements if talks are successful.”

Steven Schumacher has left his position as Head Coach of Stoke City.

View the Club’s announcement in full via the link below.

— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) September 16, 2024

Stoke City have been given permission to speak with Norwich coach Narcis Pelach over their manager’s role.

It’s after the sacking of Steven Schumacher.

(Via: @JPercyTelegraph)#SCFC pic.twitter.com/OFBc3IaKcK

— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) September 16, 2024

CLUB STATEMENT:

Steven Schumacher has left his position as Head Coach of Stoke City.

Jon Walters said: “My role as Sporting Director is to make tough decisions that serve the long-term interests of Stoke City.

“After ongoing discussions with John Coates, we feel the time is right for a change in direction to bring success to the club.

“We have a young, dynamic squad that is eager to develop and a clear vision of how to achieve success, and we hope to announce a new appointment shortly. We will need the fans, staff, and players united in support to achieve our goals.

“As always in football, these decisions are difficult, and we wish Steven and his staff all the best for the future.”

With Mark Hughes, Chris Cohen, Peter Cavanagh and Elliot Turner having also left the Club, Alex Morris and Ryan Shawcross will take caretaker charge of the team.

Chair John Coates added: “Steven, Mark, Chris, Peter and Elliot depart with our thanks for their efforts and with our best wishes for their future careers.

“We have faith in the squad of players we have assembled and firmly believe they can bring success to Stoke City this season.

“I continue to be hugely thankful to the Club’s fans for their loyal and passionate support.”

FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW STOKE MANAGER

BetVictor – 11am – 16th September
Ryan Lowe – 2/1
Nigel Pearson – 5/1
Frank Lampard – 8/1
Graham Potter – 10/1
Michael Beale – 10/1
Charlie Adam – 12/1
Leam Richardson – 14/1
Brian Barry Murphy – 14/1
Andrew Crofts – 14/1
Ryan Shawcross – 16/1
Richie Wellens – 16/1
Rob Page – 16/1
Michael Appleton – 16/1

Stoke’s Steven Schumacher, per Sky Sports: “This is a result that we could end up regretting because I thought it was a big opportunity for us.

“Our performance wasn’t brilliant in the first half, and I said to the lads at half-time that I thought the game was there for us.

“The opposite happened, though, and we concede a poor goal almost immediately after the restart.

“We’ve talked about these cut-back crosses during training this week, so that’s really disappointing from our point of view.

“There are no excuses from us whatsoever, though.”

Stoke City head coach Steve Schumacher told BBC Radio Stoke: “I think it’s a game that we’ll end up regretting. We spoke about it as an opportunity to come here and get a win, try and get three points and we said exactly the same at half-time.

“The performance wasn’t brilliant in the first half, but it was still there for us and we just needed to up our game.

“But the opposite happened. They got the goal early on in the second half – a real poor goal from our point of view from a throw in – and then we huffed and puffed in the rest of the second half but showed no quality.

“So not good enough, and in the end we got what we deserved.”

Oxford’s Des Buckingham: “I hope our fans realise that a lot of really hard work has gone in this victory again today.

“It was an overall performance from the team, and this against a very, very good Stoke team.

“I thought the first half was probably evenly-balanced, but in the second half I thought we were really exciting to watch and that’s pleasing for me and our fans.

“We’re putting together a way we want to play – I certainly don’t want any of my players to be robotic in any way.

“Collectively we’ve been impressive again, but I also want the players to showcase themselves as individuals when they can. I want them to go out there and play with that freedom and that excitement.

“I suppose that’s the kind of coach I am, rubbing off on them. I don’t want us to be a boring team to watch.”

Here’s how fans reacted with the favourites to become new Stoke City manager after sacking Steven Schumacher…

Dominic Brassington: Shocked 😮 But David Moyes for me.

Anita Walley: Crazy! All the new signings then sacked!?!? Can only assume some disagreement must have happened.

Kevin Tomson: Needed to happen. With the players we have at the club we should be doing better now. Clearly things behind the scenes weren’t good either

Tom Hughes: Want to know the story behind this – I think we all need an explanation!!!!!!

Darrell Moss: Maybe see vidigal and manhoof on the wings running at teams now, who knows what’s gone on now

Kayla Jones: Wow I’m shocked 😲

Amanda Cartwright: Wow… Christ was a mess as usual.

Karl Podmore: Surely there’s been a fall out, madness!

Debbie Jayne Johnson: What the actual hell is this nonsense

David Holland: Something must have kicked off after Oxford cuz I felt the players and us were behind him. Bringing someone new in now is mad, someone who’ll likely want to make their own changes in January.

Alan Dave Leece: This cannot be performance related. After letting Alex Neil drag us into a relegation battle until December last season when he should have been sacked much earlier. We normally always give managers time. I thought the connection between the supporters, manager and players was improving drastically. An indifferent start but it’s a long season ! There is more to this story. There must of been a fall out.

Nathan Wynne: Very shocked by this but can also see why.

Owen Turner: Absolutely stupid decision

Jack Whitehurst: Absolutely shocking 😳

Chris Dobson: That’s nuts. Makes no sense whatsoever.

Pete Lees: What the hell are Stoke doing 🫣

Jason Norcop: I give up honestly. We change things in the summer to help him, we recruit players that he wants, a week after the transfer window they sack him?? And as always it will be a British manager who has been around the block. Then come January he will want his own players and we are back to square one again.

Bill Boden: He was/is building a half decent team. The bloke needed time, unless summat happened in the Oxford dressing room after the match

Ian Sumnall: First thing Jon Walters has done that I disagree with. We must have someone lined up for this to happen so suddenly or there has been one hell of a fall out

Alfie Peake: I had hope for him but if we’re completely honest he’s not been amazing he says the right stuff but there’s never a plan b I’m glad we’ve done it early on if that’s how they feel

Janet Catherine Barker: What the hell his going on with this club you get him sign these players then sack him the championship clubs must be laughing there heads off I know it was a bad result and he didn’t pick the right team on Saturday but the squad we’ve got shouldn’t have got him the sack

Terresa Crabb: Historically we have backed managers and stuck with them through good and bad. What is going on ? We are changing managers as quick as I change my knickers 🤣🤣