FORMER Stoke stars have rallied behind Tony Pulis by calling on chairman Peter Coates to resist calls to dismiss his beleaguered manager.
Many fans want Pulis gone straight away, others at the end of the season, after seeing Stoke sink towards relegation hot water on the back of a run in one win in 13.
But Stoke legend Terry Conroy, while respecting the opinion of fans, was adamant there should be no hiring and firing.
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He said: "Should he go now or in the summer? My answer is no and no. For anybody to consider a change would be ludicrous.
"Any manager at a club for a long spell is always going to have a sticky patch, but he will come good. I have faith in him.
Ex-defender and Sentinel columnist Mike Pejic, below, dismissed talk of removing the manager now and put the spotlight on the players.
He said: "He's got to stay until the end of the season and then see where he stands with the chairman in relation to what funds are available to get better players and get rid of those who are no longer any use to Stoke City.
He sympathised with Pulis by adding: "What has gone wrong since Christmas? Have some players become complacent because no new faces were bought in January to put pressure on them, while those wanting to get away have remained and maybe less than committed on the training pitch?
"The manager certainly hasn't changed his philosophy from when they were unbeaten before Christmas, so something else must have happened."
Stoke favourite George Berry, a regular at home matches, said he was speaking as a fan when he said: "The only argument for him to go is if we get relegated, but I can't see that happening, and to stay in the Premier League is still an achievement, especially when you see some of the clubs down there with us.
"People are criticising him because they are starting to get nervous, but I'm a great believer... and I'm saying that as a fan who goes to games and loves the club.
"Yes, this bad run may be a wake-up call to tell us that teams have sussed us out, but you can bet Tony will be forensic when he looks back on this season."
Berry also said it was crucial fans stayed behind the team to ensure Premier League safety, observing: "I don't care about your Anfields and your Old Traffords. I know myself that when the Potters get behind you there's nothing like it.
"But the flip side is that they can vent their spleen, and you can imagine how good that would be for the opposition."
Former midfielder Nigel Gleghorn, a straight-talking media pundit these days, added: "I don't believe he should go now because I think Stoke will stay up by two points looking at everyone's fixtures.
"Then I think he's got some soul-searching to do in the summer to see if he can change the style of play, while the club has to decide which way it wants to go.
"But I don't think they will have to because if Tony thinks he fits their description still, then he should stay. If not, then I think he will decide to go anyway."
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