Stoke appoint Paul Lambert on two-and-a-half year deal to save them from relegation but new boss will watch Manchester United clash from stands
Paul Lambert has put pen to paper on a deal which will see try to save Stoke Previous Stoke target Martin O'Neill rejected a move to the English strugglers Gary Rowett and Quique Sanchez Flores also chose to stay at current clubs
Stoke City have appointed Paul Lambert as their new manager to end their difficult search to find a replacement for Mark Hughes.
Although the former Aston Villa and Norwich City manager is not a universally popular choice among Stoke fans, chairman Peter Coates and the board believe the club's current position in the bottom three require a safe pair of hands to guide them out of trouble.
Lambert, 48, has never been relegated as a manager and gained international experience as a player, winning the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund.
Stoke confirmed the appointment before Monday night's game against Manchester United at Old Trafford allowing the Scot to watch his new players.
Lambert, who impressed in his interview, will be officially unveiled on Tuesday after Stoke decided he was the right man to keep the club in the top-flight.
Chairman Coates said of Lambert: 'Paul greatly impressed us with his knowledge of our squad and had a clear plan of how he would improve our results.
'He’s a man who backed himself as a player, none more so than when he turned down contract offers in Scotland to go on trial in the German Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, and it’s obvious he adopts the same approach as a manager.'
And vice-chairman John Coates, son of Peter, added: 'Paul has been successful in management at clubs with a strong and stable background and with local ownership – the kind of foundation we are able to give to our managers.
'We were determined to appoint someone with Premier League experience or an extensive knowledge of English football. We look forward to working with Paul and supporting him to help achieve our goals.'
The Potters sacked Mark Hughes last weekend after a humiliating 2-1 FA Cup defeat at League Two Coventry last weekend.
But the process to replace him has been awkward with leading candidate Gary Rowett signing a new deal with Derby and both Quique Sanchez Flores and Martin O'Neill failing to reach agreement to take over.
Lambert, whose last job with Wolves ended last summer, was always on Stoke's list and held a lengthy meeting on Saturday night with chief executive Tony Scholes and director John Coates, son of chairman Peter Coates.
Stoke are the longest-serving members of the Premier League outside the 'Big Seven' of Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City having stayed in the top flight since 2008.
Coates has only had two managers Tony Pulis and Hughes in that time and believes Lambert will provide the stability to get the club out of trouble this season.
Lambert has previously managed Livingston, Colchester, Norwich, Aston Villa, Blackburn and Wolves.
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