SHAW IS A U-TURN

Rowett now set to scrap Ryan pay cut

STOKE are set to offer captain Ryan Shawcross a pay rise – just days after he took a wage cut.

The centre-back is in line to take a huge drop on his £50,000-a-week salary after the club were relegated to the Championship.

But new boss Gary Rowett is keen for Shawcross to lead a promotion push next season and wants the club to bump up his pay again to stop him leaving.

Shawcross still has three years left on a deal he signed last summer.

Stoke have already opened talks with Wales midfielder Joe Allen over a similar pay increase after he indicated he is willing to stay despite relegation.

Meanwhile, Rowett is keen to take former Stoke star Rory Delap back to the club as first-team coach.

King

The pair worked together at Derby, where former long-throw king Delap is on the coaching staff, and Rowett is set to take him back to the Potteries.

Rowett, who quit the Rams to move to their Championship rivals, also revealed outcast striker Saido Berahino has asked for talks about his future.

Berahino was frozen out by former boss Paul Lambert over concerns about his fitness and attitude.

But he called Rowett as soon as the former Birmingham boss got the job to ask for a meeting as he looks to kick-start his career.

“He contacted me straight away,” said Rowett.

“He’d been in training and wanted the opportunity to speak to me.

I will do that next week.

“Any player that’s had a difficult time is always keen to see if they can start afresh.

“For me, it’s not about the name, it’s about their ability.

“It’s about what they are prepared to do to be part of what we want going forward.”