Speaking on this week's official EFL podcast, Gary Rowett admitted that he would apologise to Stoke City's supporters, after criticising them during his time in charge of the club.

The 45-year-old left Derby County to become Stoke's new manager last summer, after the Potters were relegated from the Premier League with Paul Lambert at the helm.

After making a host of big-name summer signings in the likes of Tom Ince, Sam Clucas and Benik Afobe, Stoke were expected to make an immediate return to the top-flight under their new manager.

But after winning only eight out of their opening 27 league matches, Rowett was soon relieved of his duties by the Staffordshire club, and he has now had time to reflect on his sacking.

Speaking on the official EFL podcast this week, Rowett admitted that he made a huge mistake when he criticised the club's supporters in the aftermath of a drab 0-0 draw against Bolton Wanderers.

Rowett said: "I went into a press conference after the [Bolton] game and was angry and frustrated. The press then asked me about why Bojan wasn’t in the 18.

"But I wanted to talk about the players and the team and I got riled up and threw a comment in at that point. I look back it and see that it was a criticism of the fans and I learnt a big lesson that day as from there on it was very difficult to get that relationship back.

"If I could, I’d like to apologise to the fans because it wasn’t meant as disrespect."

Stoke are still a club in crisis even now, with Nathan Jones losing the support of Stoke fans after a dismal start to the season - they have picked up just one point from seven league outings this term.

Potters fans have now reacted to Rowett's honest comments, though, and here's what they have had to say...