Stoke City next manager news LIVE: Sunderland boss Alex Neil given ‘permission’ to start talks

Clarke: It was probably just the right time for him to go

Former Stoke captain Clive Clarke, who has watched as a pundit this season, felt it was the right decision, even if the timing was a surprise.

He told Radio Stoke: “I was surprised that the ownership had made the decision now but at the same time not surprised what the decision was. It felt like it had been coming for quite a while.

“The performances over the last six months have probably led them into this decision. It’s been a poor start to the season having not finished last season brilliantly so John Coates has made the call now and you can’t fault them.

“The lack of fight within the group when the Sunderland goal went in, after Stoke had been on top until then. Really it was Sunderland, a team who have just got promoted, who took control of the game in the second half.

“It’s always difficult to let a manager go for any ownership group because they invest a lot of time and effort and money into them and Michael O’Neill had done a great job in keeping Stoke in the league, let’s not forget that.

“But it was probably just the right time for him to go.”

He added: “I think they were trying to give Michael every support they could and hoped he could start the season well. They obviously like him as a person and were trying to back him and that’s what they do. They are probably loyal to a fault, the owners.

“They were hoping the season would start better, they’ve signed some really good players. Whoever comes in has got a decent squad.”