Delap issues Pulis plea

NOBODY understands the lure of Southampton more than Rory Delap, but the Stoke midfielder is desperate for manager Tony Pulis to resist the overtures from St Mary’s and lead City to promotion.

Pulis has been attracting covetous glances from Hampshire since George Burley quit to take over the Scotland national team last month, hardly surprising given the way he has transformed Stoke from relegation battlers into a team which harbours serious Premier League ambitions.

This emphatic win over Wolves would have impressed any potential suitors but former Republic of Ireland international Delap does not want to see his manager poached by his former club.