Stoke appoint Robins as manager

Stoke City have appointed former Coventry boss Mark Robins as their new manager on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

The 55-year-old was sacked by the Sky Blues in October after seven years in charge.

He replaces Narcis Pelach after the Potters parted company with the Catalonian last week, three months after he was appointed.

Robins' first game will be against managerless strugglers Plymouth Argyle on Saturday with caretaker Ryan Shawcross taking today's match against Burnley.

Paul Nevin, who had been serving as interim England Under-20s head coach, and former Newport County manager James Rowberry will join Robins at the Bet365 Stadium as assistant managers.

The Football Association of Wales have confirmed Rowberry will remain in his role as Craig Bellamy's assistant with the Wales national team.

Robins led the Sky Blues to promotions from League Two and League One and reached the Championship play-off final in 2023, where they lost to Luton on penalties.

They failed to match that top six finish last season but did take Manchester United, where Robins started his playing career, to a penalty shootout in the FA Cup semi-final.

He has also had spells in charge of Rotherham, Barnsley, Scunthorpe and Huddersfield.

Stoke started the season under Steven Schumacher but sacked him in August to appoint former Huddersfield and Norwich coach Pelach.

However, they won just three of his 19 games in charge and the 36-year-old was sacked on 27 December after a 2-0 home reverse by Leeds stretched their winless run to nine matches.

Robins is now the club's seventh managerial appointment since their 10-year spell in the Premier League came to an end in May 2018.

They are yet to finish in the top six of the Championship since being relegated.