Stoke City chief Tony Scholes admits they're flooded by sister club proposals.

The Potters have just struck up a relationship with cult Hamburg club St Pauli that will involve the exchange of ideas and experience as well as using each other to improve youth player and coach development.

Scholes told The Sentinel: "We are always approached for partnerships or deals by other clubs around the world, probably once every two months. There is an attraction for anyone to be associated with a Premier League club, of course.

"But there is no point going into a co-operation or partnership with another club unless you can both look honestly at it and say you can both derive something from it and get a genuine benefit.

"The key thing with St Pauli is that many of the values which drive the club are very similar. We pride ourselves on our relationship with supporters, the way we put fans first in our pricing policies and other policies. We also pride ourselves on the work we do in the community.

"St Pauli are very similar and it is a very good starting point that we have a set of shared values."