Jonathan Walters is Stoke City to his marrow and unquestionably has the club’s best interests at heart.
But does that qualify him to be the sporting director of a Championship football club? Not according to an agent I spoke to recently, who expressed his total incredulity at the 40-year-old’s appointment.

“We’re talking about somebody who has not had a meaningful job after football,” they said. “Yet he is now running the entire club as the ownership’s representative on the ground.

“Why? Because he played the game at Stoke. I’m sorry, and all respect to Jon, but what the f*** has that got ...