Peter Reid guiding Tony Pulis

Peter Reid guiding Tony Pulis

Former Manchester City and Sunderland boss Peter Reid could become assistant manager to Tony Pulis at Stoke next week.

Reid is currently head coach of Thailand but was in the directors' box at St Andrews to watch Stoke fight out a goalless draw with Birmingham.

Pulis' current number two David Kemp is to move to South America as part of the club's scouting network and Pulis confirmed: "Peter Reid was in the directors' box at Birmingham and we are hoping to do a deal in the coming week to bring him in as my number two.

"He wants to come back to England. My current assistant, David Kemp, is going to South America to look after our scouting options down there.

"Peter is a typical Scouser - a very bubbly bloke who I have known for a long time. We need characters around the place with his experience.

"There is a minor issue about securing his release from his job with the Thailand FA but we don't believe that will present a problem for us."

Stoke showed their mettle in recovering from a 4-0 drubbing by Liverpool at Anfield in midweek and Pulis was disappointed not to secure a second win of the campaign.

He said: "We are disappointed not to get three points. Our big worry at the start of the season was our first three games.

"When you play one of the top four, as we did at Liverpool in the week, it saps your energy because you have to work so hard to live with them.

"It was great to keep a clean sheet after conceding four at Anfield. It was a good response. We needed Thomas Sorensen to dig us out of trouble with a great save but we still feel we could have won the game."

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish insists the proposed takeover by Carson Yeung is not causing uncertainty on the playing side as his team took their points tally to four from the opening three games.

He said: "Does the takeover affect players? I don't think so. We've got a spirit in the dressing room we've cultivated and harnessed over the last season and a half.

"Other people have talked about it (the takeover) but, regardless of what happens with the club, the players have a lot of belief in themselves and I am pleased with their start to the season.

"I'd have liked to have had six points or maybe even more but we won't be too greedy and I know the season is going to be long and tough."

McLeish was pleased with the way his side eventually got to grips with controlling the threat posed by Stoke's long-throw expert Rory Delap.

He said: "Every time the ball goes out in those areas, Stoke fans almost suck the ball into the net and they really get behind their team.

"But it was important we didn't panic. In the first half we didn't deal with it as well as we did in training but in the second half I didn't feel it was a massive threat to us.

"I don't think we are too disappointed with a point. In the second half we made chances which ignited us a little bit and I thought if we were going to win the game it was going to be in that period.

"We got good control in the midfield but Stoke are always dangerous on the break and make if difficult for you to score and I am not unhappy about the point."

McLeish confirmed that he is still trying to sign Sporting Gijon midfielder Michel which could be the last deal approved by the current board if Yeung takes control within the next month.