Stoke City closing in on key appointment amid links with Portsmouth boss John Mousinho
The News understands Stoke City have an interest in Pompey boss John Mousinho, despite Mark Robins remaining at the bet365 Stadium
Stoke City are set to appoint a new first-team coach in bolster Mark Robins’ backroom staff.
The Potters’ summer overhaul behind the scenes at the bet365 Stadium continues, with the head coach poised to bring in a fresh face to his set-up.
Further appointments are expected, with a fresh report by Stoke-On-Trent Live claiming Stoke are close to strengthening Robins’ coaching department.
Stoke City poised to announcing key appointment
The new addition will reportedly work alongside assistants Ryan Shawcross and James Rowberry and will fill the void left by Paul Nevin, who departed in February.
The highly-regarded head coach does have admirers in Staffordshire and was identified as a potential replacement for Robins, who was reportedly under scrutiny following a 17th-paced finish.
However, the Potters’ imminent coaching addition suggests the former Coventry manager will now remain in the bet365 Stadium hot-seat.
The unnamed coach, who is believed to be finalising a deal with Stoke, is poised to become the latest arrival in what has been a busy start to the summer.
Harvey was recruited last week as the club’s new technical director, who will work under sporting director Jon Walters.
The 45-year-old was lauded as the key orchestrator behind Sunderland’s rise from League One to the Premier League prior to his Stadum of Light departure in October 2025.
Harvey has joined Damian Roden and Jack Higgins in making the move to the bet365 Stadium, with the pair arriving as head of medical and academy director respectively.
Stoke finished 17th in the Championship last term, level on points with Pompey, after a disappointing second half of the campaign, which also included a 3-1 defeat to the Blues in April.
John Mousinho’s future amid Stoke and Bristol City links
The News confirmed the in-demand head coach was on the radar of the football operations at the bet365 Stadium amid uncertainty over Robins’ future.
Walters is known to be an admirer of Mousinho, with the Potters now proving to be the identity of the unnamed Championship club keeping tabs on the 40-year-old’s situation.
The Pompey boss’ future has been under the spotlight over the past month, having been heavily linked with the Bristol City vacancy.
Despite the head coach initially emerging as a ‘leading contender’ for the Aston Gate position, Mousinho isn’t expected to make a move to Ashton Gate.
The Blues have consistently insisted they received no official approach from any of their Championship rivals regarding their in-demand boss as his stock in the game continues to rise.