Stoke Boss Explains Marshall Departure

Last updated : 01 February 2012 By Wes Handerley

Pulis had been working hard over the last few weeks using all his powers of persuasion to get Marshall to sign a new contract.

But Marshall had set his heart on a move away from the Britannia Stadium, probably to somewhere he stood more chance of an early break into the first team.

After seeing Marshall play, I can say that he was definite first team material in the making, but he just needed the finishing touches, maybe a loan spell would have helped.

But the point is Marshall was not going to sign but at least he let the club know early enough to be able to arrange a deal with a buyer rather than leave it late and have to give him away as a free agent.

So Pulis had no choice but to sell.

Leicester paid an initial £750,000 with smart things put in his contract which could take the final fee to over one million.

Nevertheless, Pulis was not happy to see such talent go down the road without being able to reach his full potential with the club.

The Stoke boss said: "We are disappointed we've lost Ben because he's a very good player, but circumstances have determined what the club has done."

Some fans were also disappointed that the Potters did not make a signing in the transfer window. again Pulis explained, it was not through the lack of trying.

Pulis also confirmed he had been working on a couple of deals but was unable to push them through before the deadline. "We wanted to try and bring a couple in, but it never happened," he added.