Stoke City Football Club News

• Nickname:Potters
• Founded:1863
• Manager:Tony Pulis

• Ground:Britannia Stadium
• Capacity:28,218

Potters: Shawcross will stay

20 May 2010 - 12:10:48

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Stoke City chairman Peter Coates insists highly-rated defender Ryan Shawcross will start the new season at the Britannia Stadium.

The 22-year-old defender has been linked with moves to Liverpool and Arsenal following a breakthrough season which led to a first call-up to the full England squad.

Shawcross could be more in demand this summer following the implementation of a new rule which stipulates that each Premier League club must have at least eight homegrown players in their first-team pool of 25.

However, Coates is adamant that the former Manchester United youngster is staying with the Potters.

"We voted for the new rule because we believe it will be good for football and will help teams to develop their own players," he told The Sentinel.

"I am all for young English players being in demand, but we rate Ryan very highly and I am sure he will be playing for us next season."