National
Pulis hails chairman's support
Stoke City 0 Leicester City 0
Stoke manager Tony Pulis thanked the support of chairman Peter Coates following his side's promotion to the Premier League.
The Potters are back in the top flight after a 23-year absence following a goalless draw against Leicester at the Britannia Stadium. Pulis, who was Stoke boss between November 2002 and June 2005, was persuaded to return for a second spell as manager by Coates almost a year to the day after he had left the club to take over at Plymouth.
Promised that money would be made available to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion from the Championship, Pulis turned his back on Argyle and returned to the Potters.
Last season the club missed out on the play-offs on the final day of the campaign, but 12 months on Stoke are back in the top flight for the first time since 1985 and Pulis insisted Coates deserves a share of the credit.
''I am obviously very pleased. Pleased for everybody connected with the football club - the fans, the players and especially the staff and the people that work closely with you,'' Pulis said.
''They have all been a massive part of it and I am very pleased for them. After the game I just took the staff away and shared a glass of champagne with them all, just to savour the moment.
''But a massive thank you goes to Peter Coates above anything else. Two years ago I was in Portugal on the beach having just kept Plymouth up and I was really enjoying it at Plymouth.
''However, Peter rang me and said he was going to buy the club and that the offer to the Icelandic directors had gone through.
''He wanted me to come back because he wanted to have a bit of a go at it (promotion). I said last time I was here I got criticised on a budget that was a bottom three budget and there was no way I was going to come back unless he gave me a chance to compete.
''He said I would be able to compete and he has kept his word. Everything he said and promised he has been true to.''
Pulis added: ''I am absolutely delighted for him because he is from this area born and bread and, after being criticised the last time he was here, he was strong enough to come back.
''When someone like that rings you up and asks if you are strong enough to come back, all you can do is accept.''
Ian Holloway admitted he was at the lowest point of his career following Leicester's relegation to League One.
The Foxes slipped out of the top two divisions for the first time in their 124-year history.
''I can't really put into words how I am feeling at the moment,'' said a disconsolate Holloway.
''This is the lowest point of my career, without a shadow of a doubt.
"I am just bitterly disappointed at the moment because if we had produced performances like that for the rest of the season then we wouldn't be where we are now.
''The spirit, the focus and the work rate was all there but it has been few and far between this season and the table doesn't lie.
''We are in that spot and it is absolutely devastating. You only stay up if you are good enough and the table doesn't lie.
''We didn't get relegated because of this game, it was because of other performances.''
Answerable to a chairman who is not afraid to wield the axe when things do not go to his liking - Holloway is Milan Mandaric's fifth permanent manager since he took control of the club in February 2007.
And the City boss admitted he does not know whether he will be given the chance to try and lead Leicester back from League One next season.
''There has been speculation ever since I came here, but that is out of my hands,'' Holloway added.
''All I do know is I feel I have let my family down and all the Leicester City people. I take full responsibility.
''I thought I could galvanise this lot. I was talking about the play-off and I genuinely believed that, but everything I have touched hasn't really worked.
''Leicester will be back. They are too big a club with too much pride not to bounce back. They deserve better.''
2:03am Monday 5th May 2008
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