 Steve Cotterill was drafted in as Thordarson 's replacement before the start of the 2002 – 03 season . Cotterill quit in October 2002 , after only four months in charge , to take the role of Howard Wilkinson 's assistant at Sunderland . The club were close to unveiling George Burley as their new manager after Cotterill 's departure ; however , a last minute charge of heart led the former Ipswich manager to decline the club 's offer . The club acted swiftly and Tony Pulis was appointed as Stoke 's new manager shortly afterwards . Pulis steered Stoke clear of relegation with a 1 – 0 win over Reading on the final day of the season that kept the club in the Championship . The club 's position in the league was consolidated in 2003 – 04 . Pulis was sacked at the end of the 2004 – 05 season , following a disagreement between himself and the club 's owners . Dutch manager Johan Boskamp was named as Pulis ' successor on 29 June 2005 , only a day after Pulis was sacked . Boskamp broke the club 's transfer record in signing <unk> <unk> for a fee in the region of £ 1m . Another significant addition was the signing of Belgium international Carl <unk> , who subsequently won the Fans ' Player of the Year Award for the 2005 – 06 season . Despite his spending on new players , Boskamp 's side was inconsistent and only a mid @-@ table finish was achieved . The season was marred by a feud between Boskamp and the club 's director of football , John Rudge , which escalated to the point where Boskamp threatened to quit . Boskamp left at the end of the 2005 – 06 season , amidst a takeover by former chairman Peter Coates . 
