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.

Although club officials will not go into the details of the argument, chief executive Tony Scholes insists the rift can be smoothed over when De Koning and Rudge return to the club next week.

“There were disagreements between the management team at the Coventry game which have not yet been resolved,” Scholes said.

“As a result, and because we have no game for the next 14 days due to this weekend being set aside for international fixtures, John Rudge and Jan De Koning have taken a week’s leave.

“We would expect to resolve the situation upon their return to the club next week. The management team have had a good working relationship up to this point and we hope that it can continue.”