Lawrence on his way out of Stoke

LIAM LAWRENCE is on his way out of Stoke City and could be bound for Wolves who have already made an offer for the midfielder.

But fellow Irish international Keith Fahey is going nowhere as he’s set to put pen to paper on a new three-year deal at Birmingham City.

Speaking after playing his part in the Irish Seniors 2-0 defeat of the Irish Juniors in a training game at Gannon Park last night, Lawrence made it clear that his time at the Britannia Stadium is up.

“I’ve spoken to the manager (Tony Pulis) and told him that I think it’s best if I move on,” said Lawrence. “Now, I’m in the process of waiting on a few things. I think it’s time for a change for me and for Stoke. It’s just football reasons. I love the club and the fans are amazing but on a pure football basis I need to be playing a bit more regularly so I’ve to move.”

Lawrence admitted that his Irish career has played a big part in his thinking. “Definitely. If I’m not playing regularly the manager here, he’s not daft, he’s going to know that I’m going to be rusty and he’s not gonna take a chance on me.”

Asked if he could now be reunited with his former Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy at Wolves, Lawrence grinned and replied: “Maybe, I don’t know, you’ll have to speak to Mick (laughs). He gave me my chance when he signed me from Mansfield and he’s a great manager. He’s done an amazing job this year keeping them up. As I say, I haven’t said I’m going there but you never know.”

Having also featured in the training game, former St Patrick’s Athletic midfielder Keith Fahey confirmed that he has secured his future at Birmingham City .

“It is there or thereabouts, a three-year deal,” he said. “All the work has been done.The fact that the gaffer (Alex McLeish) has said this today is good news to hear because you never know what can happen. I am very, very happy to get that sorted.”

Before racing off to Richmond Park to see Fahey’s old team take on Bohemians, Giovanni Trapattoni gave a brief run-down on a game which saw his team struggle to impose themselves against Gerry Smith’s spirited amateurs, though goals from Cillian Sheridan and skipper Paul McShane eventually sealed victory for the pros.

“Greg Cunningham was very good,” said Trapattoni. “Then there were the ones we knew before like Darren O’Dea and Paul McShane, both of whom impressed.In the second half. Shane Long had a good game and, overall, we worked well as a team It is important that the players get to know the system.”

Meanwhile, James McCarthy is definitely out of next week’s friendly games against Paraguay and Algeria. The Wigan midfielder was at the squad’s training base last night but, after being assessed by the medical staff and following a conversation with the manager, it was agreed that the 19-year-old, who is said to be fatigued at the end of the Premier League season, will not play in the games.