Stoke City have won a battle against all Premiership rivals.

The Sun says Premier League sides tried to make the Potters increase the playing surface at the Britannia Stadium to 105 metres x 68 metres, the same as for the Champions League.

But the proposal failed to win the two-thirds majority needed at the Premier League conference, so Stoke's pitch will stay at the minimum 100m x 64m, allowing Delap to cause maximum havoc.

Delap said: "I think the majority of clubs didn't want us in the Premier League, so this sounds like the same old story.

"We aren't breaking any rules. It also means I don't have to run far to take the throw-ins."

Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes added: "We were determined to fight our corner on this."