Stoke City have drawn up a list of possible replacements for manager Gary Rowett with the pressure beginning to mount after a series of poor results, according to the Mirror.

Discussions between the Potters' hierarchy showed that David Moyes or Sam Allardyce would be their top-targets, with the belief that either would still be able to mount a promotion push in 2019.

Patience is running thin with Rowett with the club sat in 14th place after spending over £30million in the summer with the likes of Tom Ince, James McClean, Sam Clucas and Ryan Woods all arriving for considerable fees.

Three wins in five had put the club in with a good chance of breaking into the top-six but they have since fallen victim to the busy festive fixture list.

Losses to Birmingham City and Bristol City and a disappointing draw with struggling Bolton Wanderers put them far behind in the top-six race.

Rowett will most-likely get the chance to claw back some faith in the FA Cup third-round clash with Shrewsbury Town this weekend, but a loss to the League One side could well spell the end.

The verdict

It is hard to blame the board in this instance.

I am usually all for managers being given plenty of time to build but Rowett should be challenging for the top-two with the squad at his disposal let alone the top-six.

With the board backing him to the hilt, they have every right to look elsewhere.