Jon Walters knows he needs clear focus, thick skin and to learn quickly from mistakes to lead Stoke City in the right direction.
Walters is always naturally relentlessly positive, even when he was returning to a club as sporting director just over 12 months ago that he now admits was “quite disillusioned inside the building” as well as in the stands as it fought against relegation from the Championship. Again.
In terms of league position at this stage of this season, outsiders might suggest not much has changed but that doesn’t tell half the story. For starters, two managers have gone and two heads of recruitment have gone and, Walters is sure, foundations have been laid that will prove strong in the long run.
His idea of what the club’s identity should be seems to have been clarified and heightened by everything that has gone on over the last year and it’s his job to make it come to the fore through recruitment and development of staff and players.
Now, with Mark Robins as new boss, Ian Torrance as new transfer chief and Gareth Owen as academy technical director, working very closely next to Walters, there is confidence to go with optimism – albeit that everyone realises the importance of what happens on the pitch between now and May 3.
“My mind is non-stop every day, all day,” said Walters. “Where can we get better? How can you help? What are you dealing with? What’s the problem and how can you solve it?
