news-engine

Mark Robins re-worded the first question he received in an eve-of-season audience with Stoke City supporters at the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday night. “You’ve had success in the past working in genuinely difficult circumstances,” it was put to him by a supporter called Darcy. “At Stoke City there is far more stability and a fully invested owner, why has success not followed and what needs to happen to bring it to this club?” Robins didn’t quite roll his eyes as he said with a smile: “So, ‘Everything is in place, why have you been rubbish?’ Thank you, cheers Darcy!” Robins has faced crises behind the scenes at Barnsley, Rotherham, Huddersfield and, famously, Coventry - who he pulled up from League Two to set on course for the Premier League despite a catalogue of chaos - but Stoke has not been without different challenges. FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest Stoke City news, analysis and more via the Sentinel He said: “Each club is unique and there are different starting positions. A lot has got to be said for the way the club is run and the feeling inside the club. Especially this season it’s changed, it’s different, we’re looking forward to everything. That’s not to say we weren’t last season but it’s just different this season, it feels different. “Sometimes it’s a little bit easier without resource, without that expectation. Then as expectation grows as you start to build and get more success, everyone starts to believe, get behind it and all come together. That was the difference, one of the differences, when I was at Coventry. It was totally different. “Here there are expectations and we have to manage the expectation. You can’t look at where we’ve been over the last seven or eight years – and it’s been really disappointing for everyone that’s been there all the time. Each season that goes by is even more a kick in the teeth. You can’t go from where you are to here [raising hand in the air] without a few teething problems. When I say teething problems, there have been decisions that maybe I wouldn’t have made or decisions we’ve had to make in certain circumstances before the parameters we’ve faced. “This season because of the changes, because of the way John runs the club and the way Jon has put things together, things are changing – but it takes time. It’s really difficult for everybody. It’s not excuses. I’ll never give excuses, I’ll give reasons for things. This season feels different and it could be the start of something brilliant, it’s definitely the start of something. “Since I’ve come in I felt like firefighting in the first place and I felt we got somewhere last season and then had an inordinate amount of injuries which derailed the season. It was difficult to stomach for me as well as for you and for John (Coates) and Jon (Walters). We put a lot of work and effort into that and John has put a lot of money into that. “It’s something that I take really, really seriously. We are desperate to get promoted for everybody but there is a process and that isn’t a word I use lightly. To get to where you want to get to, you’ve got to build and that’s been a difficulty for club for the last seven or eight years: coming to terms with relegation, putting all those things into practice, working alongside the rules. “There have been some difficult decisions and those decisions will continue to be made until we get the team right on the pitch. There has been good investment this summer, I’m pleased with the way things are shaping up and I think things are moving in a real positive direction.” What do you think? Click HERE to join the debate