Stoke City chairman Peter Coates says talk of stadium expansion is only in the early stages.

Coates stressed that no final decision on expansion had been taken yet.

"It is very much the early stages," he said, "and it is something we might or might not do. We are certainly not jumping to any conclusions just yet."

The news, which comes after a season-high crowd of 27,529 watched last Saturday's victory over QPR, will be welcomed by those supporters wanting extra seats to satisfy demand.

"It's good news all round," said Brian Shaw, chairman of the official supporters' club, to The Sentinel.

"The more fans we can get in the better, to increase the attendance and our income. I also think it's about time we had a ground that could hold 30,000 people."