Gary Rowett wants traditional values to be at the heart of Stoke's play.

The 44-year-old was appointed manager after Paul Lambert's departure by mutual consent due to a disappointing spell filled with low-quality football which didn't bring the results that were needed.

This appointment was a sign that they wanted to manage the transition to the Championship quickly with someone who knows the division well and Rowett has just finished an impressive season with Derby where they finished sixth and lost in the play-off semi-finals to Fulham.

This is what he had to say about his intentions with Stoke to the official site: "I can promise a team that will reflect the passion and desire of Stoke City fans.

"The owners have said quite publicly that they will invest to get the Club back to where they want to be, and where I feel it deserves to be.

"When supporters are spending their hard earned money to watch their team on a Saturday the least they want is effort and commitment and endeavour."

The Verdict

He is clearly trying to identify with the fans through his understanding of how they associate with the team. There is also a bit of an attempt to take away from the fact that Stoke's financial resources were a lot more appealing than Derby's constraints, which heavily influenced the move. However, he does acknowledge the importance of investment.

There is no doubting Rowett's talent as a manager, so it will be interesting to see what he achieves with the Potters. They have a strong squad for the Championship, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see them in the top six next season where Rowett will be hoping he can do better than last season with Derby.