Stoke City chairman Peter Coates was unimpressed by England's World Cup snub yesterday.

Coates has slammed the FIFA process.

He said: "The result is a huge surprise and disappointment because I really thought we would get it.

"We had such an overwhelming case I thought we would be successful.

"It seems to be a very Machiavellian process how they can chose Russia ahead of England. I shall be forever mystified.

"The decision is also a huge disappointment because it counts us out for a long time in the future.

"It would have been a great occasion here in England and a great place to stage it, miles better than Russia.

"How they have come to such a decision I don't know, but I do know where the world's footballing public would have preferred the World Cup to be."