Jon Walters: Stoke City sporting director wants continued improvement rather than setting specific targets in 2026

Walters also highlighted the “unique” advantage Stoke have because of chairman John Coates, whose family have pumped millions in the club over the last 20 years and became outright owners in August 2024.

“We’re in a really unique position in that we have an owner who lovers the club, is very wealthy, and wants to back the club as much as he possibly can to get us to the Premier League,” Walters said.

Central to that aim has been the significant investment in the club’s infrastructure including a multi-million pound revamp of their Clayton Wood training ground.

“When we speak to players and agents they’re really shocked with what we’ve got here for a Championship club,” Walters said.

“The training facility – it’s brilliant. There’s still work going on but it’s not far away. It’s great to be able to show players when they come in.

“I say to them it’s a great place to come and work. It’s not a place to be comfortable – it’s a place to really push yourself so we give you the facilities to get the best out of you.”

With less than half the season remaining, Walters said Stoke are in “the best place it’s been for a couple of years” and that “everything’s heading in the right direction”.

“There’s no team in the world that has a straight line to success.

“Do we want more? Of course we want more. If we were second [in the table] I’d want more. That’s my nature.

“We’re always asking how we make it better. It’s fail fast, fix fast, learn fast.”