Can the dreaded vote of confidence strike down Stoke City boss Mark Hughes?

The dreaded vote of confidence has long been a thorn in the side of beleaguered bosses.

In recent times the public backing from chairman and owners has cursed the likes of Slaven Bilic (West Ham), Ronald Koeman (Everton), Claudio Ranieri (Leicester), and Alan Pardew (Crystal Palace), while it could now come to haunt the under-fire Stoke City manager Mark Hughes.

Five victims of the dreaded cote of confidence

Hughes finds himself under an avalanche of pressure with the Potters one point and one place above the relegation zone in 17th following a sorry streak of five defeats in six Premier League games, including the last three in a row.

Saturday’s 3-0 thumping at home to relegation rivals West Ham was particularly poor, while it saw Hughes lose his rag with former player Marko Arnautovic, reportedly yelling “ungrateful fu**er” at the goal-scoring Hammers man as he left the pitch.

On Tuesday Sky Sports News revealed that despite the club’s struggles Hughes retains the support of the Stoke hierarchy ahead of the “Tony Pulis Derby” this weekend which pits together the Welshman’s former clubs, Stoke and West Brom (now managed by Alan Pardew), who lock horns in a crunch six-pointer.

Former Stoke boss Pulis has been hotly linked with a return to the Bet365 Stadium. He was recently seen with Stoke chairman Peter Coates at the LMA Awards, in which he picked up an award for managing over 1000 matches, which added fuel to the fire.

Pulis can currently be backed as the 11/10 favourite (Paddy Power) to return to Stoke for a third spell. The Next Stoke Manager Market also a few unrealistic names such as Roberto Mancini, Sean Dyche, Brendan Rodgers, and Thomas Tuchel, none of whom are likely to be keen on a relegation dogfight.

This Stoke supporter is demanding the return of Tony Pulis...on a staggering 6 year deal...!

(@bbc606) #SCFCpic.twitter.com/rfyM5QcrB5

— The Sack Race (@thesackrace) December 17, 2017