Coates rules out Shawcross exit

Stoke has issued a hands-off warning to Liverpool after reports linking them with a £12m move for defender Ryan Shawcross.

Potters chairman Peter Coates is adamant the centre-back is going nowhere ahead of the new Premier League season as he is a key member of their team. Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is desperate to strengthen his own side's defence but Coates says they will have to look elsewhere as the 23-year-old is not for sell. Shawcross meanwhile has been explaining his reasons for turning his back on a call-up to the Welsh international setup, as it's a call-up to the England squad which he craves. He said: "I have spoken to Gary Speed a couple of times and made my plans clear. "I made my decision a long time ago when the current rule wasn't in place that I could play for Wales. "I made a decision and I'm going to stick with it. Hopefully I can prove I am good enough to get into the England team."