Improvement the main aim for Stoke - Walters

Stoke City sporting director Jon Walters has said his overriding aim for the club over the next year is continued improvement, rather than setting a specific target.

The Potters have had a very encouraging season in the Championship so far and are currently only one point outside the play-off places with 20 games to go.

Hopes of a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2018 are understandably high, especially given the club have failed to finish higher than 14th in the second tier in seven seasons following relegation.

Despite the rejuvenation under head coach Mark Robins this term, Walters was pragmatic over his expectations.

"Just keep improving," he told BBC Radio Stoke. "If we do, we'll be going in the right direction.

"We're in a very good position in the league at the moment.

"In terms of a target, it's hard to say without putting pressure on to say, 'this is where we want to get to' because it's not. It's improve.

"If we can improve each day, each month, each year we'll get to where we want to."

The transfer window now offers Stoke the chance to strengthen their squad at a key moment - especially given their misfortune with injury and unavailability, particularly in defence.

Walters said the club will be "active" his month and has already overseen the loan arrival of Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu to cover for Viktor Johansson who is recovering from shoulder surgery.

"We've got lots of conversations, I'm constantly taking calls and getting messages," Walters added.

"What does the squad need heading into the last six months of the season? We'll identify the weakness in the team or where we can improve and target that.

"You have to be agile to the market as well but you tend to have a lot of bases covered it's not the case you pick up the phone last minute and someone's available - it's very unlikely that happens.

"It makes it easier [to attract players] where you're winning football matches or at a club that's aiming for success rather than aiming to survive."

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. He became outright owner in August 2024.

"We're in a really unique position in that we have an owner who loves 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."