Saturday 19 May 2018 23:23, UK
Mick McCarthy and Nigel Pearson are two of the names on Stoke's shortlist to replace Paul Lambert as manager, Sky Sports News understands.
Sam Allardyce, David Moyes and Ostersunds manager Graham Potter are not under consideration however.
McCarthy is currently available after leaving Ipswich in April, while Pearson is in charge of OH Leuven - a second division side in Belgium.
The Potters will be playing second-tier football for the first time in 10 years, and they are keen to appoint a new manager as soon as possible in order to oversee the rebuilding of the squad.
Stoke also want Lambert's replacement to have experience of winning promotion to the Premier League, which explains their interest in McCarthy and Pearson.
McCarthy has twice won the Championship with Sunderland and Wolves, while Pearson won the division with Leicester City in 2014, as Stoke search for a successor that can take them back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Despite their recent sackings by Everton and West Ham respectively, neither Allardyce nor Moyes are believed to be on Stoke's radar.
Meanwhile Potter, who played for the club between 1993 and 1996, has led Swedish side Ostersunds from the fourth tier to the Europa League, and coached them to a famous 2-1 win over Arsenal in February. but he is not in Stoke's thoughts either.
