Stoke City have sacked Mark Hughes in the wake of his side’s FA Cup third round exit at the hands of Coventry City and a dreadful run of league form which has seen the club slip into the relegation zone.

The Potters had considered dismissing the Welshman after their recent 1-0 defeat to Newcastle but thought better of it given the paucity of available managers with Premier League experience.

Jack Grimmer’s second-half winner at the Ricoh Arena was the final straw though, with away fans turning on Hughes yet again; a sign of the anger with Stoke’s slide throughout 2017 where they have won just two of their last 13 games in all competitions.

The decision ends Hughes's five-year reign at the club, in which he achieved three ninth-placed finishes in a row before ending last season in 13th and continuing to show a lack of progress this season.

FA Cup third round Show all 10 1 /10 FA Cup third round FA Cup third round Bolton 1 Huddersfield Town 2 BOLTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Danny Williams of Huddersfield Town celebrates scoring the 2nd Huddersfield goal with team mates during the The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Bolton Wanderers and Huddersfield Town at Macron Stadium on January 6, 2018 in Bolton, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) Getty Images FA Cup third round Bournemouth 2 Wigan 2 BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Nick Powell (2ndR) of Wigan Athletic is congratulated by team mates as they celebrate the own goal scored by Emerson Hyndman of AFC Bournemouth during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between AFC Bournemouth and Wigan Athletic at Vitality Stadium on January 6, 2018 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Getty Images FA Cup third round Coventry City 2 Stoke City 1 COVENTRY, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Jack Grimmer of Coventry City scores his sides second goal during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Coventry City and Stoke City at Ricoh Arena on January 6, 2018 in Coventry, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images) Getty Images FA Cup third round Exeter City 0 West Bromwich Albion 2 EXETER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Jay Rodriguez of West Bromwich Albion celebrates with Hal Robson-Kanu after scoring his sides second goal during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Exeter City and West Bromwich Albion at St James Park on January 6, 2018 in Exeter, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) Getty Images FA Cup third round Fleetwood Town 0 Leicester City 0 FLEETWOOD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Uwe Rosler, manager of Fleetwood Town congratulates Ashley Hunter of Fleetwood Town after The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Fleetwood Town and Leicester City at Highbury Stadium on January 6, 2018 in Fleetwood, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Getty Images FA Cup third round Fulham 0 Southampton 1 LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: James Ward-Prowse of Southampton celebrates scoring the first goal with team mates during the The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Fulham and Southampton at Craven Cottage on January 6, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) Getty Images FA Cup third round Manchester City 4 Burnley 1 Manchester City's Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring their first goal to equalise 1-1 during the English FA Cup third round football match between Manchester City and Burnley at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England on January 6, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFF / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images FA Cup third round Newcastle United 3 Luton Town 1 NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Ayoze Perez of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his second goal with team mates during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Newcastle United and Luton Town at St James' Park on January 6, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) Getty Images FA Cup third round Watford 3 Bristol City 0 WATFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Andre Carrilo of Watford scores his sides first goal during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Watford and Bristol City at Vicarage Road on January 6, 2018 in Watford, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Getty Images FA Cup third round Wolves 0 Swansea City 0 WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Leroy Fer of Swansea City gets a red card from referee, Anthony Taylor during the The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Swansea City at Molineux on January 6, 2018 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Getty Images

Two of the managers Stoke are keenest to speak to are Huddersfield’s David Wagner and Sean Dyche at Burnley, but neither are understood to be interested in leaving their respective clubs in mid-season and likely not for a club below them in the relegation fight.

Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is the bookmakers’ favourite but it would be a surprise to sources with knowledge of the Coates family’s thinking if the Italian were to actually take over at the Bet365 Stadium.

Stoke fans continue their protests against Mark Hughes at Coventry. (Getty ) (Getty)

There is a belief amongst the Stoke hierarchy that they boast a talented squad with players like Xherdan Shaqiri, Joe Allen and Jese who wouldn’t be out of place playing for a top-six club.