Thailand coach becoming Stoke City’s assistant manager

Peter Reid has admitted that it was tough to leave his job as Thailand coach but is looking forward to the challenge of becoming Stoke City’s assistant manager.

The ex-Manchester City and Sunderland boss took control of the South-East Asian team in September 2008 but revealed that the chance to return home and work with Tony Pulis was too good to turn down.

“I was due to fly out to Dubai last Friday but I got a call to come down here and we had a chat and we clicked. I’ve know Tony for numerous years talking on the phone about players,” Reid told BBC Radio Stoke.

“Once everything was sorted with the Thai FA - I did have three years left on a deal there and I didn’t want to upset anyone there - I was delighted to say yes.”

During his year in Bangkok, Reid led Thailand to the final of the 2008 ASEAN Cup, where they lost to Vietnam.

The ex-England man admitted that it was not easy to leave his Asian home.

“I enjoyed it there. The players are technically very good and it is a wonderful place to live in terms of the culture and the climate," he said.