“Narcis is a talented coach with huge potential,” said Walters. “He works relentlessly hard and I have no doubt that he will go on to achieve success in the future.
“However, with the way results and performances have been in recent weeks, we have to accept with hindsight that he has proved not to be the right fit for this club at this time.
“I take full responsibility for that and I’m absolutely determined that we will now make the right choice to take us forward.
“Every decision we make is driven by our love of Stoke City and absolute determination to bring success to the club.”
Pelach was former Stoke striker Walters’ first appointment since taking on the sporting director role earlier this year.
Since relegation from the Premier League in May 2018, Stoke have finished no higher than 14th.
Starting with Gary Rowett, then Nathan Jones, Michael O’Neill, Alex Neil, and Schumacher, Pelach was their sixth ‘permanent’ appointment in six-and-a-half years – and is now their third sacking in barely 12 months.
After back-to-back defeats in his opening two matches, the Potters thrashed Portsmouth 6-1 and lost only one of their following nine league matches, indicating progress was being made.
But results have nosedived since the end of November, with five defeats in their last six and Pelach has been dismissed with the January transfer window opening next week.
