New manager Paul Lambert is on a bumper bonus to keep Stoke City up this season.

The Telegraph says Lambert will be handed a £1m bonus if he guides Stoke to Premier League safety.

The former Norwich, Aston Villa and Wolves manager was appointed by the Potters yesterday after snubs from at least two other candidates to replace the sacked Mark Hughes.

Part of the 48-year-old Scot's two-and-a-half year contract is a significant bonus if he can keep the Potters in the top flight.

There is an acceptance within the Stoke boardroom that the appointment will not be wholly popular, but Lambert has proven Premier League experience and, crucially, was never relegated during a turbulent spell at Aston Villa.