Derby County boss Gary Rowett is not among the top candidates for the vacant Stoke City job, according to journalist Alan Nixon. 

That news is sure to please Rams fans, who have seen their former player guide the club into the Championship top two at the turn of the year but must have been concerned when he was rumoured to be in the frame for the top job at the Bet365 Stadium.

The noises coming out of Stoke were that they were keen on hiring a British manager to replace Mark Hughes, who was sacked after the Potters' 2-1 defeat in the FA Cup Third Round at the hands of Coventry City on Saturday.

British candidates do not come much better than Rowett at this moment in time but the Stoke board are clearly looking elsewhere.

The Verdict

I think Rowett would have done a great job at Stoke and kept them in the Premier League. The question is; why would he have wanted to take the risk when he has a great chance of getting there with Derby in any case?

Derby fans will hope that the rumours linking him with Stoke will die down and the former Birmingham City manager can focus on getting the Rams promoted.

Derby fans - how much of a relief is this news for you? Let us know in the comments section below...