Stoke City’s Paul Lambert appointment proves Mark Hughes’ final words right

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Paul Lambert has been appointed the new Stoke City manager on a two-and-a-half year contract.

“Who else is going to do it?”, Mark Hughes replied when asked by BBC Sport if he feared for his job as Stoke City manager following the New Year’s Day defeat to Newcastle United.

The answer: Paul Lambert, who was named Hughes’ successor on a two-and-a-half-year contract on Monday, after the Welshman was sacked with the Potters 18th in the Premier League.

Although the vast majority of Stoke supporters were behind the decision to part with Hughes after four and a half years, just as many may be underwhelmed with the identity of his replacement.

It is clear that Lambert was not first choice, with Sky Sports reporting that Espanyol manager Quique Sanchez Flores and Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill turned down the post prior to appointing Lambert.

Sky Sports adds that there was also interest in Gary Rowett before he signed a new contract at Derby County.

Lambert’s managerial career started with great promise, taking fourth-tier Wycombe Wanderers to the EFL Cup semi-final in 2007 before leading Norwich City to back-to-back promotions.

However, since leaving Carrow Road in 2012, Lambert has been sacked by Aston Villa and dropped into the Championship, where his short and unimpressive spells at both Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers have not done anything to suggest he is ready for another top-flight role.

That Stoke have settled for a manager of the 48-year-old’s status within the game arguably proves Hughes’ final words right; that there was not anybody more qualified for the job than him.