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BBC News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Another survival scrap 'can't happen again'
Stoke City defender Ben Wilmot says another relegation battle "cannot happen again" after last season's final-day survival in the Potters finished two points - and four places - above the relegation zone after a goalless draw at Derby County proved enough to keep them tense end typified a turbulent season on and off the field at the bet365 Stadium that saw three different permanent managers take charge of a struggling side."Last season was one of the toughest mentally because of all the change," Wilmot told BBC Radio Stoke."And the nervy end to it wasn't very fun, so it was nice to get the job done and switch off for a few weeks." The appointment of Mark Robins at the start of the year brought some stability to Stoke, who had fired Stephen Schumacher five games into the season before hiring Spaniard Narcis Pelach only to sack him three months later after 19 games and three league former Coventry boss Robins could not pull the Potters comfortably clear of trouble, meaning the squad went into that final game at the Rams knowing defeat could see them drop into League One for the first time in more than 20 years."That last week, everybody was talking about the situation and who had to beat who and what we had to do and if we'd lost who we were relying on," Wilmot said."We were just so preoccupied - it was the only topic of conversation for the whole week."It was a very stressful end to the season. Nobody wanted to go down, but it was nice to get the job done and get away from it." Feels like Robins 'is in charge of the whole place' That drama and stress have had a lasting impact on the squad, with Wilmot sure the experience will stiffen their resolves as they head into the new season."Everybody will be back with the mindset 'that cannot happen again', and I think it'll certainly put us in good stead," he said."I think we'll be a little bit more fierce in the way we approach games and not allow ourselves to drop that low in the league again - hopefully we can get off to a good start."We just hope for a steadier season on and off the pitch."Last year was very turbulent - it's not easy for people to perform when you're constantly flipping between systems and different managers. It's tough."It's a lot of the lads first time experiencing a relegation battle, and that will only have a positive impact on their careers and how they deal with games mentally."So when times get tough this season, which they will, we'll be better prepared."As horrible as last season was, it's definitely put us in better stead for this." With another Championship campaign approaching, Robins is now six months into the job and preparing his first pre-season with the the extensive rebuilding of the squad ahead of the 2023-24 season, which saw 19 players signed that summer, the recruitment this time round has been much more measured, with only Wales winger Sorba Thomas the only permanent arrival so and the unifying influence Robins has had, makes Wilmot "optimistic" going into the new season."It felt that way a few weeks after the manager came in," he said."Things just felt different. You feel like he really is in charge of the whole place, rather than just being the coach, which is a nice feeling - you feel like you've got someone who is the boss."With it not being such a huge turnaround, it feels like we're building something rather than it's another rebuild with 15 to 20 lads leaving and coming in, so the whole vibe around the building has been better than it has been the last few years." 'We can get the club back to where it needs to be' Stoke start their eighth attempt to get back to the Premier League at home to Derby on Saturday, 9 August, in a repeat of that survival game in will have to improve significantly on their performances last season when they recorded their worst points tally (51), league position (18) and goal difference (-17) since they were relegated from the top flight in Wilmot, now the club's longest-serving player, having arrived four years ago, is confident that will happen."The reason I came here was to get back into the Premier League and that's not happened," he said."This is probably the most optimistic I've been coming into pre-season over the last few years."With the group we've got and the manager, this season should be a lot better than last, and we'll certainly be pushing for play-offs at least."The turnaround across the board has been crazy, but hopefully things are going to settle down under this manager, and we can get the club back to where it needs to be."
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Dealing with 'hand grenades' at Stoke tough
Mark Robins has said that his first few months as Stoke City manager have been "really difficult" because of having to deal with "so many hand grenades" from the situation he inherited following the departure of Narcis 55, replaced the Spaniard, who was sacked after just three months in the job, at the start of the year to become the Potters' third manager of the season - and fourth permanent boss in 13 after a prolonged struggle to escape the fringes of the Championship relegation picture, Stoke finally secured their status in the division with a final-day draw with Derby result saw the Potters finish just two points above the bottom three and left Robins reflecting on his four months at the helm."That was a really difficult period," he told BBC Radio Stoke."When I came in on 1 January to now, I don't think I've experienced so many hand grenades thrown in and dealing with them." Stoke is Robins' seventh management role at a sixth different club after his two spells with Coventry City, who he left for the second time in October after more than seven has faced rebuilding Rotherham after a 17-point deduction over the club's exit from administration in 2007-08, relegation battles with Scunthorpe and Huddersfield Town and an eviction notice from their home ground by the stadium owners during his second spell with the Sky Blues."I've had some horrific experiences in management but this has been really challenging to say the least," Robins said."All of it - you're coming into a new club, you're meeting new players and personalities, you're getting to know them, trying to stamp your ideas on things and how you want to move things forward."But this is a really good football club with brilliant ownership."We've got to deal with bits and pieces over the summer." 'I didn't come here for a relegation battle' Key to that will be changing a pattern of perennial underachievement for a club that has failed to muster a serious promotion bid since being relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2017-18 fact, this past campaign has seen Stoke finish in their lowest league position (18th) with their worst points return (51) in the seven seasons since."We're desperate to make this a success," Robins said."The things we're putting in place will take time to come to fruition. We want to build something special. I didn't come here for a relegation battle. "Whether it's me taking them back into the Premier League or someone else, because we've done the work, then I'm not bothered. It's not about me."It's going to be a summer of hard work. It's a really good time to make some decisions and we have to get those decisions right."
