Stoke City will ramp up the search for their new manager over the course of the next week, starting with interviewing former Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom, according to The Sun.
The Potters are on the hunt for a new head coach after deciding to part company with Alex Neil last week following a 1-0 defeat against struggling Sheffield Wednesday. The result against the Owls was their four successive loss and left the Staffordshire club on the brink of the bottom three.
Paul Gallagher has led the team on an interim basis, taking charge of two games thus far. This afternoon’s 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion followed an identical result against Swansea City on Tuesday night, leaving them just three points above the drop zone.
With the busy holiday schedule now upon us, Stoke will be keen to bring about a stability to the squad. With fellow Championship sides Sunderland and Swansea City also in the market for a new manager, there is a fight on to secure the best man for the job. It was previously thought that they were keen on ex-QPR boss Michael Beale, but he now looks bound for the Stadium of Light.
As a result, the recently sacked Paul Heckingbottom has now emerged as the frontrunner and is set to be interviewed for the position this week. According to journalist Alan Nixon, the 46-year-old is one of a number of candidates set to stake their claims over the course of the next seven days.
The former Barnsley manager has pedigree at Championship level having guided Sheffield United back to the Premier League earlier this year. However, after a run of form which saw the Blades fall to the bottom of the table, he departed Bramall Lane at the beginning of this month.
Elsewhere, it is said that Stoke could also launch an ambitious pursuit of Plymouth Argyle gaffer Steven Schumacher, who steered the Pilgrims back to the second tier with an impressive 101 points enroute to the League One title last season. They limped to a 3-2 win over basement club Rotherham United yesterday, but currently sit 16th in the table.
Stoke kick off a run of four games in 10 days next weekend when they welcome Millwall to the bet365 Stadium.
Writer’s View
Paul Heckingbottom is a man who won’t be out of work for long and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him take the reins at Stoke City. The Potters are a club that have underperformed since dropping back into the Championship in 2018 and they do harbour ambitions of returning to the Premier League.
This season will be about steadying the ship and there could be no better man for that the ex-Sheffield United boss. Schumacher seems unlikely, especially because he would likely command a fee.
Head of Writing
