One from the Archives

I was just flicking through the old articles and thought that since this particular article, Stoke, and indeed Tony, have come on leaps and bounds. Aren`t we glad that Tony took the job hey? I am that`s for sure. Former Editor Chris Baldwin takes us through what Pulis had to say…

Tony Pulis has promised that the football at the Brit will be more exciting this time around.

Speaking to the Sentinel after his reappointment to the manager's role at the Britannia Stadium, Pulis said:"I accept the football in the last six months of my third and final season was poor and I apologise to supporters for that. But people have got to understand there were things going on they don't know about.

"I could have possibly got Peter Crouch from Southampton. There were people like Rob Hulse, Paul Ifill and, of course, Bobby Zamora. Instead, we got Tryggi and Ziggy [Tryggvi Gudmundsen and Toddi Gudjonsson] from Iceland."

Pulis acknowledged the opposition to his return, but says: "I don't believe they're all against me.

"I just hope the fans recognise I had a job at Plymouth and they were desperate for me to stay. I've also been approached by two top Championship sides. But I've turned all that down because I really do like this football club."

It's been well documentated that the owners at that time withheld vital funding from Pulis because they did not like his supposed aversion to foreign players and that Zamora was all set to join until someone pulled the plug at the eleventh hour. Pulis now says that current England striker, Peter Crouch was another player we potientally missed out on when he was at Southampton.

It would seem as though he believes that he can do better this time around with proper financial backing from the Boardroom.

Stoke fans will not be complaining if he lands the next Zamora, Crouch or Hulse in the near future.



Writer: Chris Baldwin
Date: Thursday June 15 2006
Time: 2:41PM

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