How Steven Schumacher was told his time was up as Stoke City move quickly on next boss.
Breaking news from the bet365 Stadium as Stoke City end the Steven Schumacher era.
Steven Schumacher learned when he arrived at Clayton Wood this morning that his time was up at Stoke City.
The 40-year-old had joined from Plymouth Argyle last December tasked with, first of all, keeping Stoke in the Championship and then bringing stability and success to a club that has stuttered for much of the last seven years.
Stoke did stay up, although it was a narrower escape than anyone would have liked – and the challenges along the way saw the exit of technical director Ricky Martin, but they went into the summer with a spring in their step thanks to three consecutive wins to end the season.
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The key point about the summer window was that Schumacher was a head coach rather than a manager and Jon Walters had been appointed sporting director to ensure that the squad was built for the club rather than the manager. Schumacher still had a role in recruitment – and it was his job to sell the club to targets – but he was told no at times too when he presented his own suggestions.
Walters must know this is a huge decision and that he will bear the responsibility for what happens next – to which he would counter that he would would shoulder the burden for results if he stuck with the status quo. Coaches Mark Hughes, Chris Cohen and Peter Cavanagh and fitness coach Elliot Turner have also left, being told face-to-face this morning too.
Stoke are expected to move quickly to bring in a replacement. Alex Morris and Ryan Shawcross have been placed in caretaker charge ahead of a Carabao Cup tie against Charlie Adam’s Fleetwood Town on Tuesday (7.30pm) and Hull in the Championship on Friday (8pm).
