Rowett ready to play rough GARY STOKED UP FOR A FIGHT

GARY ROWETT was clearly ill at ease in his new garish purple training top when he was unveiled to the massed media as Stoke City manager.

But it was not as uncomfortable as he will make other Championship teams feel when they face a “horrible” Potters side next season.

Relegation under Paul Lambert hurt everyone connected with Stoke. Now it is payback time with Rowett, 44, believing his new side have got the bouncebackability needed to return to the top flight at the first attempt.

Rowett’s gameplan for the upcoming Championship battle is simple, and hopefully effective, with a message that Stoke will be no push-overs.

The former Derby boss said: “The way you build excitement is to sign in bloody good players.

“I think the fans can expect a team with lots of mobility and athleticism which is something I like. A team which will work incredibly hard to stop goals going in and attack.

“I make no bones about it – I’m not the sort of manager that I particularly want my players to focus on possession alone and have great stats.

“I want us to look a really attractive side. I want to win games of football. I want to attack quickly.

“I’m the type of manager that I like that defensive pragmatic side of the game. I want a team which is really horrible to play against but I also want a team which can be exciting when they attack.

“What they will get – and I guarantee it – is a team which will work incredibly hard for the shirt and the badge.”

It goes without saying promotion is No.1 on Rowett’s wish list as the new boss and his yet-tobe-completed coaching staff spend the summer recruiting for the future.

Rowett added: “We want to bounce back into the Premier League. That’s the aim. And that will be the aim in terms of the players we try to sign.

“But at the same time I’m aware that’s not a given to teams coming down. There are different challenges. Knowing some of those helps us try to be in a position to challenge more quickly.

“I want to have that opportunity of getting the club back into the Premier League but there will be 20-odd managers in the Championship next season who will also want that opportunity.

“I will be working incredibly hard. If I ever finish my career without that promotion or without many promotions it would feel a little bit unfulfilled for me. Unfortunately, that’s how you sometimes define it.

“But I want to enjoy the job as well. I don’t just define it on promotion. I want to come in and be inspired.

“I want to come in and inspire other people. And ultimately, I want to have a bit of fun.

“It’s the job but it’s also something you want to enjoy.

“You want to enjoy coming to work and you want other people to enjoy coming to work as well. But a lot of things attracted me to the club.

“I have worked under good owners and it’s very important to get that backing. “I like my direct link and open relationship.

“That will help me try to build something for the long term.”