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          Mark Hughes signs new contract as Stoke manager

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          Hughes: Stoke were starting to fail under Pulis (1:45)

          Stoke City manager Mark Hughes believes his side were 'starting to fail' under previous boss - and new West Brom manager - Tony Pulis. (1:45)

          • PA Sport
          Mar 27, 2015, 10:01 AM ET

          Stoke City have announced that manager Mark Hughes has signed a new deal with the club through to the summer of 2019.

          Hughes revealed he had entered talks with the club over a new deal in January, with his existing contract due to run out in 2016.

          Stoke had initially reported that Hughes had committed to a new three-year deal.

          However, they later tweeted to announce that the deal would actually tie him to the club until 2019.

          Hughes, who has been at Stoke since May 2013, told the club's official website: "I'm delighted to have signed a new contract. I think it's exciting times for Stoke City, everyone can see there's more progress to be made and we want to see how far we can take the club.

          "I came here 18 or so months ago and it's gone as well as I could have hoped -- we've certainly kept progressing which is vitally important from my point of view.

          "This season has been more difficult than last season due to circumstances, like injuries to key players, but we've still been very competitive and I believe we can do even better next season with a little bit more investment. Let's see how far we can go."

          Hughes, 51, guided the Potters to their first top-10 finish in the Premier League last season and could repeat the feat this year, although they have lost their last two games.

          And the former Wales and Manchester City manager is hoping securing his future will help the club.

          He added: "Continuity is a huge thing in football, certainly in the Premier League, and hopefully the fact I've signed a new contract will give continuity to the club and, more importantly, the players because it helps them when they work with someone for a prolonged spell."