Stoke City manager Tony Pulis defends club owner Peter Coates

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has defended club owner Peter Coates.

Reports recently suggested that Pulis could be ready to leave the Potters at the end of the campaign due to a lack of investment in the first team from the owner.

However, Pulis has refuted the stories, claiming that he has a great relationship with Coates that goes beyond football.

"As I have said before, my relationship with Peter is not just a football relationship, but a personal relationship as well," Pulis told the Stoke Sentinel.

"I class him as a friend, and I mean a friend. Nobody can question the Coates family on the amount of money they have invested in this football club.

"Anybody who says anything else is being disrespectful to a family that should be held in high esteem."

Stoke are currently 11th in the Premier League having taken 34 points from 30 games.