Stoke chairman Peter Coates insists the club "never" agreed to a binding deal to make Shola Ameobi's move to the Britannia Stadium permanent.Reports had suggested an agreement was in place for the Newcastle striker to join the Potters provided they gained promotion to the top flight.

But those suggestions were denied by Coates, who said manager Tony Pulis will have the final say on whether City move for the forward, a January loan arrival from the Magpies.

"It is my understanding that the deal was never binding in the first place," he told The Sentinel.

Reports from the north east suggest Ameobi has got cold feet over a move to City after becoming homesick in recent weeks but Coates believes the decision is still in his club's hands.

"I am not aware of this development being reported, but from our point of view, whether we still want him or not is clearly a footballing decision for the manager to make," he added.

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