Sport

Pulis planning clear-out at Stoke

TONY PULIS will look to move on as many as 10 players this summer as the Stoke City manager seeks to address the growing number…

STUART JAMES
Wed Apr 28 2010 - 01:00

TONY PULIS will look to move on as many as 10 players this summer as the Stoke City manager seeks to address the growing number of disciplinary problems that have overshadowed their second season in the Premier League.

It was reported yesterday that Republic of Ireland international Glenn Whelan and Abdoulaye Faye became embroiled in row before, during and after the 7-0 thumping at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Faye is alleged to have punched Whelan in the face after the players returned to the dressingroom at the final whistle, adding to the list of off-field issues Pulis has had to deal with this season.

It is understood Faye and Whelan are both likely to remain at the club despite their spat but Pulis will oversee a clear-out in the close season that is expected to lead to, among others, James Beattie, Tuncay Sanli, Liam Lawrence and Dave Kitson leaving the Britannia Stadium.

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In December Pulis is alleged to have head-butted Beattie at the Emirates Stadium after a disagreement. The matter then resurfaced a couple of months later when it was reported Beattie had served a grievance procedure against Pulis in relation to the incident.

Tuncay has also proved to be a difficult customer. When Stoke were playing away against Hull in November, the Turkey international stormed down the tunnel and left the ground, furious he was substituted seven minutes after he had been brought on. He then repeated the trick against Aston Villa in March, while on Sunday it was Kitson’s turn to head straight for the dressingroom after he was withdrawn.

That charge sheet has convinced Pulis he needs to oversee an overhaul of his squad this summer, although the Stoke manager has refused to condemn Faye or Whelan for their behaviour at Chelsea.

“I maintain that what happens in the dressingroom stays in the dressing room,” said Pulis in a statement.

“Both Glenn Whelan and Abdoulaye Faye are disappointed that again the confines of our sanctuary have been breached. The lads have also expressed their own disappointment but understand that there are obviously one or two people who, for their own reasons, feel it necessary to leak out this information.”