Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has paid tribute to departing midfielder Rory Delap.

Delap is looking for a new club after seven years and 208 games with the Potters, during which time the £500,000 signing from Sunderland helped City to promotion, was a major part in establishing them in the Premier League and also helped the club to the first FA Cup final in its history.

Coates told The Sentinel: "When Rory broke his leg I went to see him a couple of days afterwards to reassure him that it wouldn't affect his contract. It would have been an easy opportunity for us to pull out, but we certainly didn't want to do that.

"Sunderland were pleased with how we handled that, and so was Rory. But he repaid us as he went on to become a terrific player and a really good professional for Stoke."