First goal is to stay up - Coates

Coates is not getting too carried away by Stoke's good season

Stoke City chairman Peter Coates insists staying up is still the target despite finishing an impressive 12th in their maiden Premier League campaign.

He told BBC Radio Stoke: "We finished in a very good position last season.

"We set a high bar for our first season in the top flight, and of course we want to do better.

"But if we finished a couple of places lower, we wouldn't be too disappointed. It's a tough division and we need to stay up because we need to build."

The Potters were in a relegation battle for much of their first season back in the top flight for 23 years, but a good late run of results pulled them out of trouble and into the relative safety of mid-table.

Manager Tony Pulis is hopeful of making a couple of signings before the players return for pre-season, and Coates has conceded that changes are needed to ensure the club continue to move forward on the pitch.

"We want a strong squad going into the new season so that we can do ourselves justice," said Coates. "We want to progress the club."