Fans campaign for manager's recall

Thordarson's Stoke won promotion to Division One

Supporters of newly promoted Stoke City have begun a campaign to get the club's former manager reinstated.

Fans are protesting that Gudjon Thordarson has made a real difference to the club and want him to be given his job back.

The former Iceland national team manager was not offered a new contract at the club just a week after steering the team to promotion to the First Division through the play-offs.

Members of the Reinstatement For Gudjon campaign are to protest outside the club's Britannia Stadium on Tuesday evening.

'Fight for manager'

Pat Bailey, one of the campaign's leaders, said Mr Thordarson deserved support from the fans.

"We've seen three play-offs, two trophies, he has got us to the First Division, what more qualifications do you need?

"This man has fought for Stoke City Football Club and the fans, now let us get behind him and fight for him," she said.

The club refused to comment about the campaign.

But Stoke's chairman, Gunnar Gislason, said previously that the decision not to renew the contract had been taken because of the poor relationship between the former manager and the board.

They also said Mr Thordarson had been unable to control costs.