Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has insisted that Mark Hughes is the right man to take the helm at the Britannia Stadium.

The 49-year-old, who has expressed his delight at being offered the position, was appointed by the Premier League outfit today on a three-year contract.

The Welshman has not been welcomed by all of the club's supporters following his failed stint at Queens Park Rangers, but Coates has claimed that his previous positions at Fulham and Blackburn Rovers pushed him to the top of the wishlist.

"We're satisfied that his CV is very, very impressive and is the right fit for us," Coates said in a press conference. "We've analysed everything he's done and we think that he has an outstanding record as a football manager.

"We're always trying to get better and we very much think that Mark's the right person to do that. There's no new direction. We want to have a professional structure for the recruitment and scouting of players to give the manager the opportunity to make the best choices. Mark will say who goes in and who goes out."

Hughes has replaced Tony Pulis, who spent seven years with the Potters.