Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has demanded his side play to their best in their final Premier League fixture against Southampton on Sunday.
Tony Pulis’ side will play for in the Premier League for a sixth straight season next year, but with the league so tight they could finish anywhere between 10th and 17th, with a higher league finish resulting in a prize money difference of potentially five million pounds.
And Coates can draw on past experiences of final day swings, two years ago Stoke lost to Wigan in the final game of the 2010-11 season to finish 13th when they could have finished ninth, and last season a home draw to Bolton saw them finish 14th instead of a possible 10th.
“The money available nowadays is enormous and that makes this such an important game for the football club,” said Coates.
“Every game is important, but this one shows just how important financially, and professional players should always turn up with the right attitude.
“I can certainly remember the Wigan game. That cost us about four places and a huge amount of money, about 2.5 million pounds I think.
“I certainly hope we don’t do the same on Sunday.”
Stoke will secure a 10th-placed finish if West Ham lose to Reading on Sunday but if they fail to win, there are six clubs within two points who could overhaul them in the league standings.
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