Source: Daily_Mail
Wolves lead the chase as Liam Lawrence looks for first team football away from Stoke
Midfielder Liam Lawrence has confirmed he expects to leave Stoke this summer because of a lack of first-team opportunities.[LNB]The Republic of Ireland international started only 14 games in the 2009/10 season and found himself behind Dean Whitehead and Rory Delap in the pecking order.[LNB]Lawrence, 28, told the Sentinel: 'I don't want to leave Stoke but it is becoming increasingly difficult with other players playing in my position.[LNB]'I have nothing but respect for (manager) Tony Pulis and have never fallen out with him in three and a half years at the club.[LNB] On the move: Liam Lawrence wants first team football[LNB]'But, purely for footballing reasons, it is time to move on. That is best for both parties.[LNB]'The team has done well whether I have played or not, so I am not going to moan and say I should be playing. But I am not a player who is happy to sit on the bench and just pick my wages up.[LNB]'I have agreed with the manager that this is the right thing to do. He told me he didn't want me to go but he understood where I was coming from.'[LNB]Lawrence joined Stoke for £500,000 from Sunderland in January 2007 and played a major role in their promotion to the Barclays Premier League the following summer.[LNB]He signed a new four-year deal at the Britannia Stadium last summer but things have not worked out how he had hoped.[LNB]Lawrence has been linked with a move to Wolves, which would see him reunited with Mick McCarthy, his former boss at Sunderland.[LNB]He continued: 'I am aware of interest from clubs and hope I can stay in the Premier League but I won't be doing anything without Stoke knowing.' Matthew Etherington and Ricardo Fuller told to be patient over Stoke dealsStoke want £2m for Beattie as Blackburn and West Brom chase strikerSTOKE CITY FC
