SPENDING CAP

Former boss Pulis says Stoke might be better off using smaller group of players rather than splashing out Coates millions

- Peter Smith

TONY Pulis suggests less might be more as John Coates tries to inspire a change of fortunes at Stoke City.

Coates and his family have spent hundreds of millions of pounds on Stoke, including bankrolling about £90m in transfer business since relegation from the Premier League.

But that has not translated into success on the pitch over the last few years, with seven successive bottom half finishes in the Championship and eight managers leaving since the start of 2018.

Pulis was backed with time rather than riches when he guided Stoke to promotion in 2008 and he would like to see the club put together a smaller group of players who Mark Robins can really put his faith in over the long-term, rather than always trying to find solutions in the transfer market.