FESTIVE AIM FOR POTTERS

Stoke on track for moving Robins' first-team squad into their new training base

- Peter Smith

STOKE City are on course to move their first team into a new training building by Christmas as further investment is promised at Clayton Wood and the bet365 Stadium.

The Coates family is limited in terms of how much it can provide manager Mark Robins and sporting director Jon Walters in the transfer market due to Financial Fair Play rules but they are allowed to spend on infrastructure - and they have been working their way down a long list in that particular regard.

Work started in November on a state of the art £12m two-storey complex on what used to be a warm-up area at Clayton Wood, the club's biggest off-field project since building the stadium back in 1997.

That is expected to be completed this year before Stoke turn their full attention to renovation work on the existing building, which will then be solely used by the academy and women's teams.