Management duo on leave after row

Stoke assistant manager Jan de Koning and director of football John Rudge have been given a week’s leave following a row with manager Johan Boskamp.

The fall-out occurred at the 2-1 win over Coventry in midweek and De Koning, who has shared the burden of media interviews with Boskamp, was not at the Britannia Stadium for the 3-0 victory against Brighton at the weekend.