Tony Pulis: Stoke City project is still a work in progress (video)
TONY Pulis says he is ready to quit as Stoke City boss – when he has left a lasting legacy on the club.
The Welshman has faced growing fan anger unprecedented since promotion to the Premier League five years ago.
But he insists his work is far from done after nine seasons in two spells at the Britannia Stadium.
He says keeping the club in the Premier League is vital to not only strengthen the first team, but also to build the club's off-field infrastructure.
"We came into the Premier League miles behind the game in lots of respects," he said.
"I prefer to lay foundations for future generations. I'm not a manager who wants to come in, do one thing, then walk away at the first opportunity.
"I've always enjoyed building clubs. The longest times I've had at clubs were Gillingham, where we built it up, and now here, where we are trying to push on."
On the question of leaving, he added: "There comes a time when it's right – but that's not at the moment."
He stressed that maintaining the confidence of his players was key to arresting a slide of three successive defeats heading into tomorrow's home clash with West Brom (3pm).
"We've got a group who go out there every week to do their best," he stated, "and that's all you can ask for.
"Players are the most important people at any club and they thrive on confidence.
"It's very important the players feel they have the supporters behind them and they deserve that for what they have achieved over the last four or five years.
"We have to protect them, look after them and instil confidence in them before they go out for games.
"The players haven't deserved what they've got, especially away from home, but we have to recognise that when we get control of a game we have to put it to bed."
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by Stars-stripes
Sunday, March 17 2013, 11:06AM
“Hmmmmm who would pay £200,000 a week for a job that any one could do?”
by NOONESHOME
Sunday, March 17 2013, 8:24AM
“Stripes
Sorry mate ,but every time you post on here you make yourself look really silly. "Managing in the premier league is tougher than a Proper job". That has to be the stupidist comment i have ever heard in my life,even more ridiculous than TPs post match interviews. It makes me believe either you have never worked in your life, or you have had a very cushy number in your working life,£20-£30 thousand a week, or £250.00 a week, Hmmm, let me think now,who has it the toughest.”
by Stars-stripes
Saturday, March 16 2013, 5:43PM
“Tenth in the premier league”
by Pottersruleok
Saturday, March 16 2013, 4:05PM
“Playing football and getting paid a good bit of money at the same time in the Prem is tougher than a "proper job"?? good lord, now I know he is clueless. All the millions in TV money , most of which he has squandered on players that he has no clue how to use. 1 win in the last 10 games, 7 wins out of the last 29 league games, 13 wins out of 38 last season, ! 11 wins out of 38 the season before and mastermind of a brand of football so boring people around the world are all aware of it for sure.”
by Stars-stripes
Saturday, March 16 2013, 2:04PM
“Evapottysummerfoot do you read what you write?
Nooneshome I would suggest to you that working in the premier league is actually a lot tougher than a "proper job"
By keeping us in the premier league Tony Pulis has earned million in TV money and spread the name of stoke world wide.
There is another hoofball manager in the premier league he used to manage Blackburn and Bolton remember them”
by Pottersruleok
Saturday, March 16 2013, 1:13PM
“stripes, since I have been a Stoke fan for 40 odd years I know exactly what it takes to get into the Prem, and that is winning games, something that has hardly happened since promotion. Never have a I belittled Pulis' achievements, but beyond getting us promoted 5 years ago and getting us to the FA Cup final, I"m struggling to see anything else he has achieved !I have nothing whatsoever against the man himself, I just think he has no clue what he is doing. The only people who said we were "absolute certainties" to be relegated was a betting site and how much longer do you think we will be a "Premiership fixture" if Pulis does not figure out how to use the players he spent millions on and how to get them to score goals and win more games ?? Your arrogance that you claim to be some superior fan because you choose to ignore everything that is going on and choose not to say anything about it does not strike me of someone being a fan, just someone who is at the match just for a day out. In my opinion, it is fans like you who don't really care what we do are the ones that kept us in the lower levels of English football for so long because nobody cared, nobody voiced their displeasure they just went to the match or stayed home!”
by NOONESHOME
Saturday, March 16 2013, 11:49AM
“Let us not not forget the reality here.Pulis has spent knocking on 100 million quid,Yes that's right 100 million pounds of Coates,and fans money,and you, TPs children,and Coates think the football he turns out is acceptable.Well an awful lot of supporters have a different opinion. He says he will not change tactics,Does that not say it all, We keep losing matches, but what the hell , i will just keep making the same mistakes, Coates will never sack me.Arrogant fool. If this Idiot worked in a proper job and performed in this way,he would have been sacked many moons ago.There is no place for sentiment in business,What TP did in the past is just that, IN THE PAST. Managers will come and go from our beloved club,Fans are forever. Pulis has done well in the past,Alas if he persists in churning out his dire negative,(i cannot even call it football),more and more fans will turn against him,and he will end up leaving not as a hero, but hated by the fans,and he does not deserve that. End of season Tony. Go with dignity,Please.”
by exlongtonian
Saturday, March 16 2013, 4:49AM
“We have to protect them, look after them and instil confidence in them before they go out for games......C'mon Pulis, you could start by playing your best side instead of your favourites! I'm sure the squad know when they are being left on the bench unfairly, losing out to inferior players. Put the best lads on the pitch on merit, and maybe you might get some respect back which translates into results!”
by FrankK
Friday, March 15 2013, 10:41PM
“Stars-stripes, Tony Pulis rushing to get to the bench for the 2nd half of a vital Prem match on day of his mother's funeral is something I'll never forget. Hence I mention it in my comment at 12.26.
Whatever we may feel about some of the football played, there's no doubt in my mind that Pulis cares deeply about this club & his loyalty is unquestionable. However we debate the brand of football & tactics we produce, I'd agree that he certainly doesn't deserve some of the harsh, ad hominem remarks he gets on this site.”
by Stars-stripes
Friday, March 15 2013, 8:04PM
“Evapottysummerfoot aren't you the bloke who daren't name a replacement for Tony Pulis for fear of ridicule. Do what TP does every week, stands up like a man in front of his critics.
Your constant belittling of our mans achievements leads me to believe that you are no more than a premier league stick on who doesn't go to games. If you had been a stoke fan for any length of time, experienced just how hard it is to get in the premier league. Then gone from absolute certainties to be relegated to a premiership fixtures.(he only got us promoted!!!!)
If you had gone in the early days you would have seen that TP made very little go a long way with the help of some very vociferous fans.
Now 5 years on he is trying to put together a more attractive footballing side and its not going well.
So what do you and your stick on mates do? Turn on the man describe him in disgusting terms.
A man who left his mothers funeral for SCFC. Obviously loyalty and trust aren't something you are familiar with. Luckily for me I sit with stoke fans”