Stoke City have terminated the contract of manager Gary Rowett,” a club statement released on Tuesday said. “Members of his immediate coaching staff have also left the bet365 Stadium.
Rowett signed Nigeria international, Oghenekaro Etebo from Feirense in Portugal prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
“The club would like to thank Gary and his staff for their efforts over the past eight months. A new managerial appointment will be made as swiftly as possible but in the meantime Rory Delap, Kevin Russell and Andy Quy will take charge of first-team affairs.”
A poor start to the season meant Rowett has never been unpopular with Stoke fans. There were Vocal protests against the manager erupted during last week’s 2-0 home defeat by Bristol City, in which a “Rowett Out” banner was on display. The board decided to act after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Shrewsbury in the FA Cup, when Stoke supporters’ frustration reached breaking point.
The defender Bruno Martins Indi said after the match that anger in the stands was having a negative effect on the team. “Of course it is affecting the players,” he said. “They are shouting the football is shit, the football is shit. But what is going to help? what is going to help, tell me? It is not helping us, but I understand the frustration. I am frustrated as well that we don’t get to top six during the season.”
Rowett is the third Stoke manager to leave the club in little over a year, with Mark Hughes sacked at the beginning of January 2018 and Paul Lambert vacating his position after failing to keep the club in the Premier League.
David Moyes is the favourite to succeed Rowett with Slavisa Jokanovic, Derek McInnes, Sam Allardyce and Carlos Carvalhal are also in the running.