COATES DISMISSES MARTINS LINK

The Potters have been linked with a number of strikers, West Ham's Dean Ashton being the main one, but Coates said Martins was not on their list.

"There's nothing in that one. We haven't had contact or discussions about him at all," he said.

"I don't know where the story has come from, but there is no substance to it."

Stoke have also been linked with a bid for West Ham defender James Collins and although Coates admitted an enquiry had been made - about the same time they asked about Ashton - talks had gone no further.

"I think Tony Pulis has had talks with West Ham about this and that, but nothing concrete," he told the Stoke Sentinel.

"There's nothing happening at the moment with regard to that player and there probably won't be."