STOKE CITY RESHUFFLE COACHING SET-UP AHEAD OF HUGE FINAL EIGHT GAMES OF THE SEASON

Stoke City have reshuffled their coaching staff as focus is concentrated on the first team for eight huge final games of the season.

Alex Morris is stepping over to join Steven Schumacher’s senior set-up. Morris was brought in last summer from Crewe Alexandra, where he had forged a reputation as an exceptionally highly-rated coach, with a dual role between the under-21s and above.

He had been at Crewe with Schumacher and has already been helping on match days but, during the international break, he has taken on training ground duties with the first team too, joining Schumacher, Peter Cavanagh, Paul Gallagher and Mark Hughes.

Ryan Shawcross, who has worked alongside Morris in charge of the 21s, will now lead that age group supported by his old Stoke teammate Liam Lawrence, who has been well thought of in the academy too since he returned to the club in 2020. Darren Potter is moving to the under-18s to support Dace Hibbert.

Stoke are 19th in a jam-packed bottom half of the Championship, two points above the relegation zone. Only four points separate Millwall in 16th with Huddersfield in 22nd. They head to Hull City on Good Friday before hosting Huddersfield Town on Monday.

Jon Walters, interim technical director, said: “There are a few changes. Alex Morris is now stepping to be with the first team. It’s important that we have all hands to the pump for the next eight games. The manager is in complete agreement with it. He’s a very experienced coach. He’s up on the gantry on the match day anyway but to be on the training pitch and having more eyes (will be valuable).

“He’s a very, very well thought of coach and we need to utilise him more. It’s all about the first team, all about the results we’re going to get.

“Ryan Shawcross is going to lead the 21s, supported by Liam Lawrence, and Dave Hibbert will be with the 18s supported by Darren Potter. It’s just a few changes to the academy in every age group, we’ve changed underneath.”

Stoke have high hopes for the next generation of talent coming through at Clayton Wood, led by Nathan Lowe, Emre Tezgel, David Okagbue, Tommy Simkin, Sol Sidibe, Jaden Dixon, Freddie Anderson and Christy Grogan.

The coaching roles are expected to be reviewed at the end of the season but Morris is clearly highly valued at the bet365 Stadium.

Walters said: “Alex is a top quality coach and a lot of people speak very highly of him, including outside of Stoke City and speaking to top international managers. I know what qualities he can bring and he’s Stoke through and through as well. He lives and breathes this football club and he’s a great asset to have in that first team dressing room.

“Our focus now is on these eight games and he’s a great asset to have.”

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2024-03-28T09:42:29Z dg43tfdfdgfd