Martin O'Neill is the master motivator and that is exactly what Stoke City need after Mark Hughes sacking

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Martin O’Neill is the master motivator and that is exactly what Stoke need to rescue their season.

After this limp defeat to Coventry, the Stoke players looked like they had hit an all-time low. It was clear they need to hear a different voice.

Stoke need someone who will roll up his sleeves, get the team organised, make them hard to beat and breathe life into these players. Martin is an incredibly positive character and this job would appeal to him.

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill is interested in the vacant position at Stoke

I suspect he would like to get back into club management at the highest level and while Stoke may be a salvage mission, it is by no means impossible.

The decision to sack Mark Hughes will no doubt have been influenced by how David Moyes has got a positive reaction from his players in a short space of time at West Ham.

Stoke will want someone experienced who will turn things around quickly.

Gary Rowett is a promising, young manager but he lacks the experience that O’Neill can offer. For all Ronald Koeman’s good work at Southampton, Stoke may be concerned at how poor his Everton team were this season after spending £150million. 

If Stoke are to stay in the Premier League, O’Neill would be their safest choice.

O'Neill has a proven track record at Celtic, Aston Villa, Leicester and the Republic of Ireland