by Martin Spinks
martin.spinks@thesentinel.co.uk

MONICA Hartland says she is happy to put the record straight on her relationship with Stoke City chairman Peter Coates.

Despite being born within a fortnight of one another, and sharing a similarly humble upbringing in 1940s Stoke-on-Trent, there was a time when it appeared each was seen by the other as the Devil’s offspring.

But she insists: “It was never personal.

“I think people now realise my criticism came purely from my love of football.

“I’ve always known he was a local man and a Stokie through and through. And I never wanted anybody from the outside running our football club.

“But in his first spell as chairman, it seemed to me he was stopping anybody else from coming in.

“On the one hand he was saying we needed someone else, but on the other I thought he was asking too much for his shares.”

And then came the final straw, she says, when the so-called “golden” shares were issued to ensure he and fellow director Keith Humphreys remained permanently on the board when the Icelanders took over in 1999.

“Thank God he removed those shares when he came back three years ago. People might say it didn’t really matter as he was in charge anyway, but it did. He has since helped financially with the club and that should not be taken for granted and we should be grateful.

"I know it is a means of redemption for him after the past, but I am just so pleased it has worked out for him and for us. I have no bone to pick with him now whatsoever. We are united and that is what has made the club what it is. There is harmony... and long may that continue.”

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Fans’ chief hails Coates
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Lifelong Stoke City fan Monica takes up new role
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