Stoke have been dealt a huge blow in their hunt for a new manager after Quique Sanchez Flores turned down the chance to return to the Premier League.
The former Watford boss had been expected to replace Mark Hughes as manager after being offered a five-year deal following talks in Barcelona.
But in a press conference on Saturday, Flores confirmed that he would be remaining at La Liga side Espanyol for the foreseeable future.
'I am and will be the manager of Espanyol,' he said.