Burley turns down Potters

Stoke City today suffered a major setback in their quest for a new manager when George Burley performed a U-turn and turned down the chance to take over the First Division strugglers.

The former Ipswich boss was expected to succeed Steve Cotterill, who left to become Sunderland assistant manager earlier this month, in the Britannia Stadium hot-seat after he watched their 2-1 home defeat by Watford last night.