"Lies with the manager" - Jermaine Pennant defends controversial Stoke City, Steven Schumacher call | OneFootball

Former Stoke City star Jermaine Pennant spoke exclusively to FLW on his ex-side's sacking of Steven Schumacher, who has been replaced by Narcis Pelach

Jermaine Pennant has defended Stoke City's controversial decision to sack Steven Schumacher, who was swiftly succeeded by new boss Narcis Pelach.

The Potters have conducted a significant, and strongly scrutinised, managerial turnover following their relegation to the Championship in 2018.

Indeed, in the six years that have followed their fall-out from the Premier League, Michael O'Neill and Alex Neil are the only two managers to surpass the 50-game benchmark in the Potteries, where six permanent appointments have been made in that time-frame.

Although certain managers such as Nathan Jones and Gary Rowett flattered to deceive, leaving scarce shock after receiving their marching orders, there was a palpable sense of surprise when Schumacher succumbed to the same fate just five games into the new second-tier season.

Schumacher, who was appointed to replace Neil only last December, had won two of his opening five games in charge this season but was ultimately dismissed following a 1-0 defeat away to Championship newcomers Oxford United in September.

The 40-year-old guided Stoke to a 16th-placed finish in the Championship during his first season with the club and had been in charge of 32 matches, leaving many supporters to fume at the club's decision to give him the axe.

Indeed, Schumacher himself later revealed his own shock at being dismissed by the Potters, who have since appointed former Norwich City first-team coach Narcis Pelach.

Jermaine Pennant defends Stoke City's Steven Schumacher, Narcis Pelach call

Spanish boss Pelach was appointed just two days after Schumacher's sacking, which sent yet more criticism in Stoke's way.

The Potters were under fire for parting ways with Schumacher quite so hastily when it did not appear as though he was under any reasonable pressure or uncertainty.

However, their decision has been defended by Pennant, who remains a fan favourite from his three-year stay in the Potteries during their Premier League era, helping the club to reach a historic FA Cup final in 2011.

"Well, you have to look at it, they're [now] 17th in the league and three points above the relegation zone," Pennant exclusively told Football League World.

"When a team like that is struggling, it's the nature of the business. It's a results-based game, if you're not picking up results and doing well then unfortunately it lies with the manager.

"You can't say it's not justified with where they are in the league, you want to change that direction as early as possible hence why so soon they wanted a new manager in.

"Again, a new manager who hasn't got that experience of being a manager. He's been assistant manager a lot of the time, at Huddersfield and Norwich.

"Being a full-time manager is going to be a big ask but it's one of those where time will tell."

Narcis Pelach's start at Stoke City

Pelach has yielded a mixed bag of results from his opening four league games in the job, just one of which has returned three points.

His debut in the dugout was marked by a chastening 3-1 home defeat to Hull City, and Stoke went on to lose by a two goal margin once again the following weekend as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.

However, Pelach did guide Stoke to a much-welcomed 6-1 rout of Portsmouth prior to the international break, representing the side's biggest victory since their historic win by the same scoreline against Liverpool all the way back in 2015.

Stoke signed off before the two-week period by playing out a 0-0 stalemate away at 11th-placed Swansea City, and they will be looking to return to winning ways in Saturday afternoon's trip to Norwich.