Stoke City chairman Peter Coates says there is cash available for the January market.

He told The Sentinel: "You only have to look at the league table to see four points one way or the other can take you a long way. It is very tight.

"In January, our plan is to strengthen the squad. That was always our intention."

Coates also thanked supporters for backing the team in numbers in their first season in the Premier League.

Stoke have averaged crowds of 27,183 in the league - higher than West Brom, Hull, Fulham, Bolton, Blackburn, Portsmouth and Wigan.

Coates said: "Our support has been excellent, as I thought it would be.

"I thought we would fill the stadium, which we have done, and I thought they would be behind us, which they have been. I am also sure they will stay right behind us."