Key man Ben Wilmot admits he has never been involved in a turnaround as big as the one at Stoke City this summer as the club tries to break a cycle of disappointment.
Stoke let 15 players go at the end of last season while seven loanees returned to their parent clubs and there have been eight exits from senior roles behind the scenes. Vacancies have started to be filled while there is a huge amount of work to do in player recruitment.
At the same time, Alex Neil is preparing the group currently in the building for a first pre-season friendly – at Notts County on Saturday – with lots of players from the under-21s taking advantage of the lack of new faces to stake their own claims.
Wilmot said: “Sixteenth wasn’t good enough, 100 per cent, and that’s the mood everyone in the dressing room has, as well as all the members of staff. I’ve been there for two years and I feel like we’ve massively underachieved with the squads we’ve had in both seasons.
“But I think with the manager having the window to choose who he wants to bring in on top of the lads he’s already got, I think we’ll be in a really good position to have a real good go this season.”
He added: “The group that we’ve got in the building at the moment is predominantly very young and energetic so training has been sharp and it’s been lively. We have had a lot of the younger lads come up and train with us, which is a really good opportunity for them as well.
“I think the mood is good and we’re just waiting on maybe a few older, more experienced lads to come into the dressing room and then everything will be on the way.
“I’d say I’ve never been part of a turnaround this big before. I think we feel like there’s been a big change in terms of who was here last year and now isn’t. But I think it’s good, I think we needed that sort of refresh and a chance for the manager to bring in the players that he wants.
“As long as the lads that are brought in are good guys then they’ll get on well with everybody because we’ve got a real group of lads at the moment. I think everybody is just looking forward to seeing who we bring in.”
Stoke are expected to seal a deal for Preston playmaker Daniel Johnson following his campaign for Jamaica at the Gold Cup. Links have also grown with fellow free agent Enda Stevens, the Sheffield United favourite.
But Neil and his transfer team are having to hold their nerve in their pursuits of major signings. Targets are of the kind of calibre where they could attract interest from clubs at the bottom of the Premier League.
Speculation ensues and Wilmot said: “I think everybody knows everybody in football so as soon as you hear a name, everybody knows what they’re capable of and what they’re going to bring to the team. We’re always trying to find out if there’s any whispers of people coming in just like fans are, we’re no different.
“It would be good to get a few more bodies in but I think come the first day of the season, we’ll be strong.”
The centre-back is fit again after missing the end of last term with a fracture to his back. He returns as player of the year, hoping for another campaign of improvement.
“I’d like to play every game and play better than I did last year, as simple as that really,” he said. “Then hopefully we can perform better as a team and then end sort of higher up and where we feel we should do in the league.
“We’ve lost some big characters from last season so it’s our time to step up. I think I’m certainly one who needs to step up in that central position, leading others, commanding and being more vocal. I think that is definitely something I need to do this season.”
