Stoke City manager Tony Pulis avoids driving ban for speeding at 96mph
SPEEDING Stoke boss Tony Pulis has escaped a driving ban – despite having 15 points on his licence.
Pulis was clocked driving his BMW 530DM at 96mph within a 60mph-stretch of the M42 motorway hours after Stoke had been thumped 5-0 at Bolton last November.
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But Pulis has escaped a ban after his lawyer argued it would have caused the manager, Stoke City and the people of Stoke-on-Trent exceptional hardship.
And Pulis warned he could not hire a chauffeur because his confidential phone conversations could be leaked and potentially scupper major transfer deals.
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Now Pulis, who admitted speeding on November 6, has seven days to pay his £2,500 fine and £85 costs.
Leamington Magistrates' Court heard Pulis was handed six penalty points for the latest offence, on top of his existing nine points.
Pulis told the court that he sometimes works from 7am to midnight, lives in Bournemouth, drives 62,000-miles-a-year and watches up to three football matches every week.
Pulis told magistrates: "I'm in control of over 100 employees. I deal directly with the chairman and his son; it's very unique in that respect.
"They're concerned about the circus of media which follows football clubs.
"A lot of the success of the club is because a lot of deals have been kept within the football club until we have to disclose them. We try to keep it that way."
Asked why he could not employ a chauffeur, Pulis responded: "We signed Peter Crouch in the summer without anyone knowing. "That took almost four days of non-stop conversations between us and Tottenham and Peter and the like.
"If other clubs had found out, they would have been attracted and might have signed him before us.
"I have my staff who I trust implicitly, but there are things I wouldn't even discuss with them."
Pulis also warned a driving ban could affect his charity work, including fund-raising for the Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust, at Trentham Lakes.
Pulis's lawyer, Mike Stephenson, told magistrates that the manager's close relationship with the Coates's family had been key to Stoke's success.
He told magistrates: "There are numerous phone calls every day between Mr Pulis and the chairman which are totally confidential.
"That has contributed to the success of the football club. As a result of being in the Premier League it has put Stoke-on-Trent on the map.
"It has led to numerous businesses being set up.
"A number of them are totally reliant on Stoke City, and those businesses would suffer if they were relegated.
"The people of Stoke-on-Trent could suffer if Mr Pulis lost his licence and lost his job."
Allowing Pulis to keep his licence, magistrate Donnie Clarke told him: "You will not be able to use this defence again in any other proceedings in the next three years."
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Stoke City: Defiant Potters prove they are no bog standard side
Stoke City: We have set the standard we now have to maintain for the rest of the season, says Whelan
Stoke City: Van's the man to break Stoke hearts
Robbie Earle: First-class medical facilities must be made available to all players at all clubs
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Comments
by LoveForStoke
Wednesday, March 28 2012, 9:16AM
“How can we ever hope to have any kind of fair legal system to move our Great City forward if the figureheads and "leaders" of the things we value are above the law. This story is a real let down for this City that I love.
Tony Pulis, if you read this then you should do the right thing and submit your license for the duration of what the ban would legally be. Stand up and be a role model for the right reasons.”
by Arthur2011
Wednesday, March 28 2012, 6:26AM
“Pulis, a ridiculous little man. Here's the guy who is always bleating about how unfairly his players are treated and how referees should be consistent. Yet he feels it's acceptable to corrupt the judicial system for his own ends. The "man" disgusts any right thinking indivual with his hypocrisy and I say this as a Stoke fan.”
by queenbee73
Monday, March 26 2012, 12:11PM
“utter joke”
by oatcake_eater
Monday, March 26 2012, 8:55AM
“First of all - I'm no fan of football in any way so this cannot be seen as a the comment of a disgruntled fan so a few comments ....
How on earth can this guy get off with this ? He KNEW he was close to the ban limit yet continues to drive at speed, for long hours, on the phone - surely an accident waiting to happen ??
It would in absolutely no way make any difference to my life if he was banned or not
WHy can't he get a chauffeur ? He can afford it surely and with a non-disclosure agreement PLUS a soundproofed privacy screen separating the rear of the car from the driver, the chance of leaked info is about ZERO
Finally - the fine received is an absolute joke - about a 1/4 of a day's pay
Terrible”
by vsource1
Sunday, March 25 2012, 9:15PM
“simply shocking he should have been banned, the everyday man or woman would have been!! the job is his choice, where he lives is his choice and the decision to drive over the speed limit is his choice.
I personally would not suffer any hardship if he was banned but he would, he would have to pay (or get the club) to pay for a driver! get the driver to sign a confidentially agreement. I wonder how Lord Sugar or other cope....any another thing was he also talking on the phone while driving ?? another offence there Mr Pulis maybe”
by Exserviceman
Sunday, March 25 2012, 4:48PM
“No doubt all the statements he made were true but that doesn't justify breaking the law and as with most of the "extenuating circumstances" excuses that are trotted out by lawyers should be ignored by the judiciary and he should have been banned from driving , as most people would have been, and fined more because of his income level after all magistrates always take that into account with the low paid.”
by focusboy
Sunday, March 25 2012, 2:09PM
“Apparently, the people of Stoke-on-Trent would suffer "extreme hardship" if Pulis was to lose his licence.
Can you believe that a supposedly intelligent member of the legal profession stood up in a court and spouted this nonsense?
What planet are these people from?”
by stokie9009
Sunday, March 25 2012, 12:51AM
“Reading this article just goes to show if you have a good solicitor you can get away with things the "normal Joe Public" can't. But the defence about telephone calls, is he basically saying that he drives while on the phone??? Its proven that telephone conversations while driving distract concentration. Therefore when he is driving he should not be on the phone for the duration of that journey. So if he had a driver surly he could show restraint and not be on the phone while travelling from A to B?
Perhaps that should have banned him so that he has to move to Stoke to save all the travelling. Also if he lived in Stoke he would do his spending in Stoke boosting the local economy rather than taking his wage and spending in Bournemouth.”
by littlemisspop
Saturday, March 24 2012, 9:41PM
“disgraceFUL”
by yesamwargames
Saturday, March 24 2012, 1:39PM
“Perhaps he could get away with murder on the same grounds, he could be hired as a 007 assassin who can never be found guilty of any crimes. Did somebody bring in a new law that anyone in fottball is above it.”