Source: SKY_Sports
Scholes promises to back Pulis
Tony Pulis will have significant money to invest in his Stoke squad this summer, with chief executive Tony Scholes adamant the club will not stand still in the close season.
Stoke have earned plenty of plaudits for the manner in which they have quickly adapted to life in the top flight, with Pulis having spent £27million following the club's promotion from the Championship.
Club chairman Peter Coates is keen to keep the momentum going, working in partnership with Scholes and Pulis.
Scholes said: "We are never going to have a transfer budget or a wage budget which matches clubs right at the top of the league.
"But that said, Peter Coates has backed this club in fantastic fashion. Peter is clear, and all of us are clear, we want to stay in the Premier League next year and will do everything to achieve that goal. That includes financial backing.
"Obviously clubs at our level do not spend the kind of money the teams at the top do.
"We will spend what we believe is required to be competitive. Tony has proved this season he can achieve fantastic results with that budget. He has done a magnificent job.
"It will be a challenge as people talk about year two in the Premier League being tougher than year one.
"Our responsibility is to make sure Stoke is a well run club and it is. We aim to get the very best out of every pound we spend."
Beattie bonus
According to Scholes, the arrival of James Beattie from Sheffield United and Matthew Etherington from West Ham in January were key to Stoke staying up.
"There is a big gulf in class in your first year in the Premier League and it is very difficult to be able to build a team properly in the summer.
"Promoted teams in particular need the January transfer window. The two players Tony brought in made a huge difference and arguably without them we would have struggled. Tony used that window extremely well."
Scholes believes they can attract good players because of their new standing in the game.
"Maybe some will look at us as a different proposition to a team that just achieved safety on the final day," he added.
"We have not just stayed in the Premier League but stayed in it well."
