Sporting Director Jon Walters: After just five games in the new season, Stoke City have sacked their head coach Steven Schumacher following their 0-1 loss against Oxford United, the club announced on Monday.

“My role as Sporting Director is to make tough decisions that serve the long-term interests of Stoke City. After ongoing discussions with John Coates, we feel the time is right for a change in direction to bring success to the club,” said Sporting Director Jon Walters.

“We have a young, dynamic squad that is eager to develop and a clear vision of how to achieve success, and we hope to announce a new appointment shortly. We will need the fans, staff, and players united in support to achieve our goals. As always in football, these decisions are difficult, and we wish Steven and his staff all the best for the future,” he added.