Stoke City has announced the full-time appointment of Jon Walters.

Jon Walters has been named Stoke City’s permanent sporting director, the club has revealed.

After taking over for departing technical director Ricky Martin in February, Walters returned to Stoke as an interim and has since impressed everyone at the club both on the field and off. The 40-year-old, driven former attacker has been training for a position such as this since hanging up his boots, and he has seized the opportunity as the team battles to keep its championship status.

Although Walters has been interviewed by other contenders for the position, chairman John Coates is trusting him to lead the team and manage all football-related areas.

“We had a rigorous hiring process, interviewing a number of outstanding candidates, and there was no doubt in my mind that Jon was the standout candidate,” Coates stated.

Since assuming temporary leadership, he has amazed everyone by inspiring the team and our supporters and by clearly communicating his vision for the future.

“Jon possesses the leadership abilities to assemble individuals with the appropriate backgrounds and abilities for the good of Stoke City. He understands what it takes for our football team to succeed.

“Restating our Championship position is currently the club’s top priority. Beyond that, Jon will play a key role in laying the foundation for what we all hope will be an exciting future.

Walters has been approaching his work at Stoke with the mindset that he is here to stay, assisting with pre-season planning and organizing the recruitment office in front of a crucial summer transfer window.

However, ensuring Championship survival has taken precedence in the near term, and he has coordinated with head coach Steven Schumacher to take all necessary steps to offer the team the best chance of surviving. This has included a first call to action for fans and a little coaching staff reorganization that has allowed highly-regarded Alex Morris to work as a full-time member of the first team.

“It’s difficult to express the desire I have to help this club return to its rightful place,” Walters remarked. Maintaining our Championship status this season is our top aim. After that, we must work to achieve our long-term goal of improving upon our previous state of being, brick by brick.

“It’s going to take time, and there will be ups-and-downs along the way, but the mission is to create and sustain a team that truly represents the club, our fans and the city of Stoke-on-Trent. We will do that by instilling a culture of high standards in everything we do and being true to the local DNA of dedication, relentless hard work, having each other’s backs and never giving in.

“Those values and ambitions must be aligned right across the club, including the board, the players, training ground and stadium staff, and our amazing fans.

“We will recruit and develop people who live and breathe our behaviours and standards, and I will constantly hold myself and others around me to account in our relentless pursuit of the successful future our supporters so richly deserve.”