BUILDING BLOCKS IN PLACE

Chairman Coates believes Potters have right personnel behind the scenes to tackle the future

- Peter Smith

JOHN Coates is confident that the right people are in the key roles at Stoke City as he reveals the club has been setting up a bespoke data unit to try to help recruitment.

Coates could not hide his disappointment about a season in the wrong half of the Championship, when safety from relegation was only confirmed on the final day, but he is sure that recent appointments will help propel the club in the right direction.

Jon Walters has just passed his first anniversary as sporting director, Mark Robins arrived as manager on New Year's Day and Ian Torrance joined as head of recruitment in March.

Stoke are also closing in on a new academy manager to work alongside academy technical director Gareth Owen.

Coates said: "You're always striving to make everything better and if I look at every single department of the club it's in a pretty good place.