BYE JANUARY AS GAZ FACES AXE AT STOKE
ENGLISH LATEST
BY DAVE ARMITAGE GARY ROWETT looks set to be sacked by Stoke if they crash out of the FA Cup at Shrewsbury tomorrow.
And the Potters manager knows the situation is serious, with his pledge not to drink this month broken in less than 24 hours.
City are 14th in the Championship with eight wins from 26 games and defeat at the League One Shrews tomorrow would seem certain to signal the end of his reign after only eight months.
Rowett said: “I planned a long, dry January. That didn’t last long – less than a day. I understand the fans’ frustration, I understand all of it.
“There’s a lot of negativity around and I get it, I really do.”
Stoke were pre-season favourites for an immediate return to the Premier League but are eight points adrift of the play-off places.
Fans were calling for his head even before the 2-0 home defeat to Bristol City on New Year’s Day.
Former Everton, Manchester United and West Ham boss David Moyes is being linked with the Potters job, along with former England manager Sam Allardyce.
Rowett added: “I’m aware of the speculation but I don’t pay too much attention to it.
“When you are mid-table and get a result like Saturday, you are kind of waiting for it.
“I’ll just do the best I can, which is what I’ve done from day one.”