Stoke & Staffordshire

Latest Updates

  1. Shawcross becomes first-team coach at Stokepublished at 17:11 15 January

    Stoke coach Ryan ShawcrossImage source, Rex Features
    Image caption,

    Ryan Shawcross first took charge of Stoke for an EFL Trophy match against Fleetwood Town in September

    Former Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross has been promoted to the role of first-team coach by the Championship club.

    The 37-year-old steps up from Under-21s coach, replacing former Crewe boss Alex Morris - who is leaving the club - in manager Mark Robins' backroom team.

    Shawcross, who played 453 games for the Potters between 2008 and 2021, was in charge for two games prior to Robins' appointment, taking four points out of six against Sunderland and Burnley.

    He retired from playing in 2022 but returned to the Bet365 Stadium the following year as part of the academy coaching staff.

    Dave Hibbert has replaced Shawcross as U21s coach, with Darren Potter taking over from him in charge of the U18s.

  2. Stoke 'in a good place' under Robins - Tchamadeupublished at 16:44 14 January

    Stoke City right-back Junior TchamadeuImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Junior Tchamadeu joined Stoke from Colchester in September 2023

    Stoke City full-back Junior Tchamadeu says the players are in "a good place", two weeks after new manager Mark Robins arrived.

    The 21-year-old, who was named the Potters' player of the month for December, says performances have been "good as a collective" following a four-game unbeaten run, including the 2-1 victory at Sunderland in the FA Cup on Saturday.

    "We're growing with each other, which is important - we're full of confidence," the Cameroon defender told BBC Radio Stoke.

    Tchamadeu has been deployed at right-back in a back-four since Narcis Pelach left, both under temporary boss Ryan Shawcross and now Robins, as opposed to playing in a back-five.

    "I feel I'm able to give the team what I was brought in to do," he said. "Having that freedom to do that is always going to help my game.

    "I'm enjoying my football now. That's helped me a lot and it's helped the team."

    Tchamadeu says Robins sets "high demands" but that it's "exactly what we want and it's what we need".

    "We need high expectations, we need demands from each other, as players, as staff and everyone around the building," he said.

    "Without these demands, we won't progress. It's important for us as a collective to have a demanding manager who will take no nonsense.

    "He [Robins] knows the division inside and out, so with that experience it's going to help us."