3 Mark Robins replacements Stoke City must eye if he leaves ft ex-QPR manager | OneFootball

Stoke City could potentially dismiss Mark Robins after a dismal end to the campaign, as FLW looks at three potential replacements

Stoke City are heading into a huge summer and cannot afford to have any degree of uncertainty regarding their short, medium, or long-term plans, especially in terms of manager Mark Robins, whose future has come into question.

When the Potters began the 2025/26 Championship season with four wins in their first five, and were closely contesting Coventry City and Middlesbrough for the top two in November, not even the most pessimistic of Potters fans could have predicted their fall off.

A 10th consecutive bottom-half finish in a row has ensued, as Stoke plummeted to 17th under the guidance of former Sky Blues boss Mark Robins, keeping their highest placement since relegation to the second tier in 2018 as 14th.

Only eventual champions Coventry and now play-off finalists Middlesbrough have spent more time in the top two across the season than Stoke, whilst only Sheffield Wednesday picked up fewer points than them across the final 30 games.

Robins' future has rarely been questioned despite being in clear relegation form for nearly half a year, but now, Football League World understands that the Potters are beginning to sound out potential replacements for the 56-year-old in the event of his departure.

He only signed a fresh three-and-a-half-year deal in November 2025 in a show of unity, with Robins being their seventh permanent boss since relegation. Now, they could be looking for their eighth, as FLW takes a look at three potential replacements Stoke should be considering.

John Mousinho

John Mousinho has done a truly excellent job at Portsmouth since taking charge at Fratton Park in January 2023, in what was his first managerial role since retiring as a player.

In his first full season in charge, he would end Pompey's 12-year stay outside the top two divisions with promotion to the Championship, and despite financial constraints, he has cemented their place in the second tier for the last two seasons.

Financial constraints are certainly something he wouldn't receive at Stoke, as the Potters could offer him ample the amount of transfer and wage budget in comparison to his current arsenal, and would almost certainly be tempted by the offer.

His future has come into question over the past few weeks, with division rivals Bristol City heavily linked with a move for the 40-year-old, as they too hunt for a new permanent boss.

If Stoke want Mousinho, they must make up their minds on Robins and move swiftly, otherwise they risk losing out on his services.

Marti Cifuentes joined Leicester City from Queens Park Rangers at the beginning of the campaign, having done a solid job across just under two years in West London.

The Spaniard began his managerial career in his native Catalonia, and has since had spells in each of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, before making the move to England with QPR in 2023.

He would be dismissed from his role at Leicester in January 2025, with the Foxes 14th in the table, who would then go on to be relegated following his departure.

Out of work ever since, Cifuentes has never been afforded a sizeable budget across his career, which could all change with Stoke, where he will be able to show exactly what he is about.

Their only previous appointment of someone not from the United Kingdom was fellow Catalan Narcis Pelach, who may have put the Potters off coaches from the region for life. Though Cifuentes is someone they must almost certainly consider.

Scott Parker

Scott Parker is a master of the Championship, but hasn't quite been able to ever truly cut it in the Premier League.

The former England midfielder has earned promotion with each of Fulham in 2020, defeating Brentford in the play-off final, with Bournemouth in 2022, finishing in 2nd two points behind former club Fulham, and with Burnley in 2025, finishing in 2nd once again on 100 points, conceding just 16 goals across the league season.

Despite this, he has always failed to keep any of his promoted sides in the Premier League, either dismissed before he had the chance, or, in Fulham's and Burnley's case, falling into the Championship with them.

He left the Clarets earlier this month following the confirmation of their return to the second tier, and whether he is looking to jump straight back into management remains to be seen.

Taking the job at Stoke would be his toughest task yet, as while he has never not been promoted from the second tier, Stoke haven't finished in the top half in eight attempts, as it's almost a case of an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.