Celebrity Stoke fan Dominic Cork delivers stark warning to supporters and discusses Mark Hughes’ future

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Celebrity Stoke City fan Dominic Cork has been discussing his fellow supporters’ expectations and the future of Mark Hughes.

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes

Stoke are sat 12th in the Premier League table with just two wins in their last 10 games.

A midtable finish is the best the Potters can hope for this season and their poor form has seen Mark Hughes’ future called into question.

The Welshman replaced Tony Pulis in 2013 and led his team to 9th place finishes in his first three seasons at the helm.

He could well repeat that feat once again but speculation has been rife he won’t be around next term.

And former England cricketer Cork, a staunch Potters fan, told talkSPORT he finds it baffling.

“There’s been a lot of calls about Mark Hughes and I’m hearing reports that he’s going to go and I hope he does (stay at Stoke),” Cork told talkSPORT.

“I think Mark Hughes has done an excellent job, he’s changed the way we play football.

“Where do Stoke fans want to be?! There’s no chance we’re going to get in the top four, not even the top six.

Stoke fan Dominic Cork

“Be realistic, be happy where we are, yes we’re playing better football and keep Mark Hughes he’s a good manager, stop this rubbish about ‘we need to get rid of him’ – he’s there for the future and I think if we get between 11th and seventh it’s been a good season for Stoke.”

Hughes has repaired his reputation at Stoke after damaging spells at Fulham and Queens Park Rangers.

While Peter Coates must take credit for continually investing in the team, Cork does raise a valid point when he asks supporters what more they want.

Question marks over Hughes’ future

Only foreign investment, which would see the club live well beyond its means, could possibly elevate the side into the top six reckoning and even then there are no guarantees.

Of course the club could get a stroke of luck in the transfer market and pull off some N’Golo Kante-esque recruitment but how long would the Potters be able to keep players like that for realistically.