Stoke chairman backs Fuller to stay

Stoke City want to keep controversial striker Ricardo Fuller despite the Jamaica international getting sent-off for slapping club captain Andy Griffin.

Fuller was red-carded during Sunday's 2-1 loss at home to West Ham – a result that left Stoke in the Premier League's relegation zone.

And with the January transfer window imminent, some fans have said City should sell Fuller.

But Stoke chairman Peter Coates told the club's official website on Tuesday: “It hasn't entered our heads to sell him. We're absolutely sure we want to keep him. Ric's a good player and you don't sell your good players.

“He's a big player and an important player, he helped to get us here (the Premier League), and he'll stay at the club.”

Coates saved his harshest criticism for referee Michael Jones, who he said had been wrong to dismiss Fuller at the Britannia Stadium.

“I'm not condoning it but can't referees use discretion? “I thought the referee could have handled it better. You see things far worse on the pitch all the time go unpunished.”

He added: “Let's not get it out of proportion – it was hardly a punch like Muhammad Ali.

“Little incidents and spats happen all the time, on the pitch and on the training ground, we mustn't forget that.”

However Coates, due to meet manager Tony Pulis on Wednesday when Fuller and Griffin return to training with the rest of the squad, made clear that the forward's conduct had been unacceptable.

“I'm very disappointed in Ricardo indeed,” he said. “The incident shouldn't have happened, it was unprofessional.

“He's an emotional guy but needs to control himself. But in the heat of the moment, these things can happen.

“We all do things that we regret and I'm sure he is regretting it now. We are going to deal with this within the club as that's the way it should be dealt with. Tony Pulis will come in tomorrow to do whatever is necessary.

“I'm sure they can play together again, the guys get on well with each other as I understand it.

“We have a good team spirit and I'm sure that'll continue.”

Coates accused referees of favouring big clubs, citing the way in which Stoke's Andy Wilkinson – nicknamed 'Rash' – was sent-off against champions Manchester United on Boxing Day as an example.

The Potters' chairman said United winger Cristiano Ronaldo should have gone into referee Chris Foy's book for flicking a boot at Wilkinson.

And he was equally critical of Foy's failure to punish United striker for throwing an elbow at Abdoulaye Faye.