Don’t let the big clubs turn the best league in world into a walkover
Stoke owner Coates on a warning for the elite, sacking Hughes and why Butland is the England No1
FROM Russian oligarchs to American t ycoons a nd Middle Eastern royalty, Peter Coates has welcomed them all to Stoke City as the local boy made extremely good. As a boy, Coates stood at the old Victoria Ground to watch Stanley Matthews, little imagining that success in business would one day allow him to become owner of his beloved hometown club.
For the past 10 years under his leadership, Stoke have been in the Premier League, an unbroken run matched only by the big six clubs and Everton.
However, they are in the bottom three with their status under threat before tomorrow’s visit by Manchester City. Circumstances have already led Coates to change managers during a season for the first time when he sacked Mark Hughes in January and replaced him with Paul Lambert.
‘ People would argue, and I wouldn’t challenge it too strongly, that maybe we would have been bett er off doing it sooner,’ says the chairman. ‘But we had a man there [Hughes] who served us well and we had a good relationship with him.
‘It is a tough game and it is tough for managers as well. You want to support them. You keep thinking, ‘Win the next game and it will all look different’. It’s difficult. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.’
It is an explanation of a decent man. Coates comes from workingclass Roman Catholic roots, son of a miner, the youngest of 14 children. He first made money in catering and bought Stoke City in 1989, lasting eight years until he sold to an Icelandic consortium after fans had turned against him. Yet in 2006, with Stoke still in Division Two and facing a financial crisis, he bought the club back.
‘The Icelandics had given it a go and their money had run out. The club were on a downward spiral and no one else would come in,’ says Coates.
‘My family were concerned about me getting involved again because of what had happened to me before. You can get plenty of abuse in football and it was an unpleasant time.
‘It’s harder for the family than for you. You can take it, they feel it more personally. They don’t like their husband or father to be shouted at in this way. Imagine what someone like Arsene Wenger is going through.’
Buoyed by the commercial success of his family’s online gambling venture, Bet365, Coates has enjoyed success in his second spell in charge.
Tony Pulis was appointed manager and won promotion to the Premier League. Stoke were favourites to be relegated in their first season but signed Matthew Etherington and James Beattie in January and finished 12th.
Coates’ ambitions are more limited this time. ‘I am hoping to finish high enough to keep us up,’ as he puts it. ‘This League is really hard and every year is a challenge.
‘Anyone who thinks you’re complacent couldn’t be further from the truth. You start every year with no points, no matter how well you’ve done before.
‘The promoted clubs have all done well this season. I don’t think many people would have forecast West Brom, Stoke and Southampton to be down there. It’s an example of how things can change quickly and how difficult it can be.’
It is hard to imagine a calmer figure under pressure than Coates, who turned 80 in January.
The changes he has seen during 30 years in the game have been monumental, not least the influx of foreign owners and players into the Premier League.
‘I believe it is the best league in the world,’ he says. ‘Nobody would argue it’s not the most competitive and that’s partly because of the resources of the new owners.
‘We have more top players than anywhere else by some distance. Messi and Ronaldo are greats in Spain but won’t be easily replaced.
‘The English Premier League is really an international league. Owners are fascinated by the product and want a piece of it but they come in and discover it’s very tough. Some have had big shocks, some have lost a lot of money.’
There is also a warning to the elite clubs not to risk the League’s success by demanding too big a slice of the pie.
‘We all recognise the part the biggest clubs play, but they already get big rewards as well. They need to understand you have to keep it competitive and distribution of monies is an issue,’ he says.
‘Fans and viewers want to see a competitive game. Big clubs must never take their eye off that. We are second-from-bottom and we are playing the leaders. And we want to give them a game.’
His instinct is that a European league won’t happen. ‘I don’t think Europe will want it, I don’t think
England will want it. The Premier League is an amazing success story. There would be uproar if anyone considered killing it.’
Coates thinks Pep Guardiola’s City team have a claim to be the finest club side seen in English football. It is a big call from someone who has watched the game for seven decades.
‘I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone better,’ he says. ‘I enjoy the old days but modern football is very impressive. The level of skills is so high and played at such a pace.
‘When Liverpool dominated 30 years ago, it was essentially a British and Irish league. Now you have top players from around the world: Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero.’
Though part of the club’s plight is down to questionable buys — £18million for Giannelli Imbula and £15m for Saido Berahino — it should not be forgotten that goalkeeper Jack Butland was a snip from Birmingham at £3.5m.
‘We’re hoping Jack will be in goal at the World Cup,’ adds Coates. ‘We think it probably will happen but obviously it’s [England manager] Gareth Southgate’s choice.
‘ I’m biased, I see Jack every week. But I watch enough football to think I have a good case to say he is the best English goalkeeper.’
Of more immediate concern is keeping Stoke in the Premier League. ‘It’s our only focus,’ says the chairman.
When Lambert got the call, he drove down from Glasgow and presented himself for interview four hours later. His passion and enthusiasm landed him the job, with Coates aware of his achievements in the Premier League at Norwich and later under difficult circumstances at Aston Villa.
‘Paul has had an impact,’ he says. ‘We’ve conceded fewer goals and are playing with an intensity we need for the rest of the season.’
Lambert has lost just one of six matches, although draws will need to turn into wins at some stage.
Stoke remain a model club in terms of organisation and punching above their weight. Peter’s son John is vice-chairman and will one day take over. The sharks who circle Premier League clubs hoping to buy know they are wasting their time in the Potteries.
‘People have asked if we want to sell and the clear answer is “not interested”. We are in that fortunate position that we don’t need to make some money,’ says Coates.
‘John is completely involved in the decision-making with myself. Like me, the club means an enormous amount to him.
‘ Football has conquered the world. And I am lucky enough to have this very close involvement at a high level.’