Steven Schumacher under pressure as 2 experienced candidates emerge as Stoke City’s top manager targets

01/03/2024 Raymond Football 0

As the pressure mounts on Steven Schumacher, Stoke City is thinking about Tony Pulis and Adrian Heath.

Stoke City is considering former player Adrian Heath and manager Tony Pulis as short-term alternatives to Steven Schumacher.
Stoke City’s Steven Schumacher’s future With 12 games remaining in the Championship, the Potters are currently in the relegation zone after a terrible campaign.
That cost Alex Neil already, as he was fired early in the season and was replaced by Schumacher, who was brought in from Plymouth.

The 39-year-old was supposed to bring innovative football and new ideas to the Bet365 Stadium, but things haven’t worked out thus far. Schumacher has won just three of his 12 league games in charge, and they’re currently on a run of six defeats in seven.

Therefore, the pressure is building on Schumacher, and it has been suggested that he could be sacked if they fail to pick up a positive result against Middlesbrough this weekend.

Stoke City is keeping an eye on Tony Pulis and Adrian Heath.

Furthermore, the Potters’ administration is reportedly already thinking about Schumacher’s replacement as they attempt to remain in the division, according to HITC.
It’s interesting that they disclose that Pulis, a 66-year-old legend at the team due to his outstanding performance early in his career, is a target.
Stoke made its Premier League debut under Pulis’ leadership, and he contributed to the team’s rise to the top division.

The Stoke City 10-year challenge: where are Tony Pulis's 2009 squad now? - Stoke-on-Trent Live

According to the update, Pulis would need some persuasion to return to the game because he left Sheffield Wednesday in 2020.
Furthermore, it is reported that the Stoke chiefs are considering Heath.

The 63-year-old started out his playing days with the Potters, and he has a managerial career that goes back to 1996 with Burnley. Most recently, Heath was with MLS side Minnesota United, with his six-year spell coming to an end in 2023.

Adrian Heath On Everton, Howard Kendall And Managing Minnesota United In MLS

Stoke City getting ready for a big moment

Given that Stoke is now having a very concerning run of six losses in seven games, it makes sense that the management is searching for a temporary fix.
Relegation would have a severe financial impact on the team since it would leave them in the third division and need them to pay a hefty salary.

They may believe Schumacher can’t deliver the necessary results since they are desperate to stay in the league.
It’s debatable, though, if Heath or Pulis are the better option.