Pulis defends Fulop U-turn

Stoke boss brushes off criticism from counterpart Keane

By James Dall   Last updated: 1st August 2008

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Pulis: Fulop U-turn

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Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has defended the club's decision to pull out of a move for Sunderland's Marton Fulop.

Black Cats boss Roy Keane blasted Stoke on Thursday over their treatment of transfer target Fulop.

The Hungarian goalkeeper looked poised to sign at the Britannia Stadium after a fee was agreed, however the switch was called off, before Stoke completed the capture of Thomas Sorensen on a free transfer.

But Pulis is standing by the club's actions, and insists the decision to cancel the deal was in the Premier League side's best interests.

"The deal fell through simply because we couldn't come to an agreement with his agent on personal terms," Pulis said in The Sentinel.

"These things happen in football. I cannot speak for Roy and what he does. All I will say is that I have total respect for everybody and everything at Sunderland football club.

"He's got to say what he's got to say but, at the end of the day, we obviously have to make decisions on players that are in the best interests of this football club."