Cotterill rejects Dons to join Stoke
Steve Cotterill has revealed he spoke to Wimbledon about the vacant managerial position at Selhurst Park before taking over at Stoke City today.
The former Dons player has quit Cheltenham despite steering them into the Second Division last season and has signed a three-year contract with the Potters.
He replaces Gudjon Thordarson, who was sacked just four days after taking the club into the First Division following a 2-0 win over Brentford in the play-off final.
The 37-year-old said: "It's a big move for me and one I'm looking forward to. I spoke to Wimbledon last Thursday before I spoke to Stoke but the minute I knew the Stoke job had come up I knew that was the job I wanted.
"The ground is nothing short of magnificent and the supporters here are fantastic," he told Sky Sports News.
Stoke chairman Gunnar Gislason admits the ambition of Cotterill was one of the main reasons behind the decision to appoint him as Thordarson's successor.
Gislason said: "He (Cotterill) is ambitious and wants to progress even further.
"That mirrors the philosophy of this club because we are ambitious and we want to progress further, too.
"We will begin with the First Division next season and after that our sights will be on the Premiership.
"We believe Steve has the same aims and that is why he is such an excellent and appropriate appointment. This is a new beginning for Stoke."
