Stoke City sack head coach Steven Schumacher

Steven Schumacher had overseen four wins in seven games in all competitions this season

Stoke City have sacked head coach Steven Schumacher following Saturday's Championship defeat by Oxford United.

The 1-0 loss was the Potters' third league defeat of the season to leave them 13th in the table with just two wins from their five games.

It brings 40-year-old Schumacher’s tenure as Stoke boss to an end after just nine months, having left Plymouth Argyle to take the job in December.

Stoke's sporting director Jon Walters said the decision was made to "serve the long-term interests" of the club, adding: "As always in football, these decisions are difficult,"

Former Crewe Alexandra boss Alex Morris and ex-Potters captain Ryan Shawcross, who now works as the club's Under-21s coach, will take charge on a caretaker basis.

Their first match at the helm will be Tuesday's EFL Cup tie against Fleetwood.

The narrow loss at Oxford was Stoke's first match back after September's international break, following back-to-back wins.

Schumacher oversaw a thumping 5-0 Carabao Cup win against fellow Championship side Middlesbrough on 27 August, then .victory at his former side Plymouth Argyle.

Before being beaten by Oxford, the only other games Stoke had lost this season were against West Bromwich Albion and Watford, who are top and fifth in the table respectively.

Schumacher became Stoke's sixth boss in six years when appointed as Alex Neil's replacement, with the club three points above the relegation places at the time.

Stoke chairman John Coates described Schumacher as "one of the most exciting young coaches in the country" after his appointment. But the Potters only stayed uo thanks to winning their lastr three games, to finish 17th, six points clear of trouble.

"We have a young, dynamic squad that is eager to develop and a clear vision of how to achieve success," said former Stoke striker Walters, who was appointed as technical director in April after two months in an interim role following the sacking of Ricky Martin.

Reports suggest that Stoke have already made an approach to Norwich City's Spanish first-team coach Narcis Pelach.

"We hope to announce a new appointment shortly," said Walters.

Time of transition at Stoke

Schumacher was brought in after an excellent spell in charge at Plymouth Argyle.

The Liverpudlian guided the Pilgrims to the League One title in May 2023 with 101 points - beating Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday to first place - in his first full season in management.

His departure from Home Park in December shocked many in Devon, with Argyle holding their own in the Championship.

Following his departure Plymouth’s results regressed, leading to the sacking of his successor Ian Foster after three months and the club needing a final-day win over Hull City to maintain their second-tier status.

Schumacher was widely regarded as one of the best up and coming managers in the Championship when he took over at Stoke.

His record of 13 wins and 13 losses from 32 games came at a time of transition for the Potters. They made 10 summer signings, while 19 players left.