Former Republic of Ireland winger out of intensive care

Former Republic of Ireland and Stoke winger Terry Conroy has left intensive care after an improvement in his condition following emergency surgery on Sunday.

The 64-year-old Irishman is now in the high dependency unit at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire and is reportedly communicating with family members at his bedside.

"We are all wishing Terry well," said Stoke chairman Peter Coates. "Our thoughts are with his family and we just hope he gets better soon.

"We look forward to seeing him around the club again very soon."

Conroy, an integral part of the great Potters side of the 1970s and scorer in the 1972 League Cup final victory, suffered a suspected vascular aneurysm at the weekend.