Tony Pulis (foto: Getty Images)
Former Stoke City coach Tony Pulis has criticised Premier League clubs for selling homegrown players to comply with PSR regulations, warning that local football identity is being lost.
Tony Pulis has voiced concern over the growing trend of Premier League clubs selling their homegrown players to balance financial books under the league’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
The Welsh coach, best known for his time at Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion, has been largely away from the touchline for five years. Yet his views remain sought after — especially as football revisits tactics and traditions he helped popularise, such as long throws and disciplined defensive systems.
Speaking recently, Pulis turned his attention to a new issue: the financial pressures forcing clubs to sell off academy talent. “I often hear fans say, ‘He’s one of ours,’ and I think that’s great. But that’s becoming less and less,” he said. “Academies in England have become so important. Players can join a club as young as six and spend more time there than in school. Most of the time, these are local boys who feel a strong connection to the club and fans.”
Pulis lamented how modern financial regulations have shifted priorities away from footballing values. “Unfortunately, clubs these days often sell youth products because they’ve noticed it’s easier to comply with the rules. They sacrifice their local talent so they can financially feed their teams,” he explained. “Now everyone is trying to fill academies with talented youngsters, often foreigners. Is this a footballing decision or just a ‘stock’ against PSR rules?”
The former Premier League manager’s comments echo growing criticism of how PSR regulations — designed to prevent excessive spending — have unintentionally encouraged clubs to sell academy players, whose transfers count as pure profit in accounting terms. It’s a trend that has drawn frustration from fans who see fewer local heroes making the first team.
Pulis’s connection to coaching remains strong through his son Anthony Pulis, who currently serves as an assistant coach at Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer and previously worked alongside Inter Miami.