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Page last updated at 10:17 GMT, Wednesday, 21 May 2008 11:17 UK

Stoke opt not to expand stadium

Stoke fans
City can expect sell-out crowds next season in the Premier League (Getty).

Stoke City chief executive Tony Scholes has revealed that the promoted Potters have no plans to build new stands in the corners of the Britannia Stadium.

He told BBC Radio Stoke: "It's something that we thought about but not something we are not going to do.

"We want to get people used to the ground being full. If we sell out every game next year then there's every reason to look at expanding."

Only one of the corners at the Britannia currently has seating.

A lot of clubs have gone down and then found it impossible to get back so, being up there, our objective will be to stay there

Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes

Scholes is determined for the Potters to achieve Premier League safety next season.

He said: "It's been a 23-year job to get in the top flight so it would be very wrong to throw that away.

"A lot of clubs have gone down and then found it impossible to get back so, being up there, our objective will be to stay there."

Scholes also said that Stoke can learn from other clubs that have managed to survive their first season in the top-flight.

"We've spoken to Bolton and Reading, we wouldn't be doing our jobs properly if we weren't doing the research.

"We don't want to just copy another club's model but it is right to learn from the clubs that have gone up, stayed up and then done well."


see also
Hard work starts now - Scholes
06 May 08 |  Stoke City


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