Friday 24 February 2012

Why Not Me Says Pearce


England caretaker boss Stuart Pearce says he is available to take charge of the team at the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.

The England Under-21 coach named Fraizer Campbell and Tom Cleverley in his squad for Wednesday's friendly against the Netherlands at Wembley.

"I have tournament experience if they need me to step into the breach in the summer," Pearce said.

"If they need me to take the squad this summer I will do that with pleasure."

However, the 49-year-old distanced himself from taking the job, which Fabio Capello vacated earlier this month, on a permanent basis.

"This job, and the profile of this job, is for a very experienced man with a better CV than I have at this moment in time," he said.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is regarded by many as the leading contender for the job, but Pearce would not be drawn on the speculation.

"I think that's a decision the FA need to make for the right and proper reasons," said Pearce, who will take charge of the Great Britain men's football team at the London 2012 Olympics.

"I'll support whoever comes in. If he doesn't want me in his set-up, I'll support him from afar as Under-21 manager.

"That's part of leadership - giving yourself for the greater good.

"By appointing me on a short-term basis, they've got breathing space, which is right and proper."

Since taking charge in 2007, Pearce has led the Under-21s into three European Championships, reaching the semi-finals in 2007 and final in 2009 before failing to progress beyond the group stages in 2011.

The former Nottingham Forest and England defender began his managerial career at the Championship club in a player-manager capacity after Frank Clarke resigned in 1996.

In 2005, three years after retiring as a player, he took over from Kevin Keegan at Manchester City, but was sacked at the end of the 2006-07 season.

Pearce was installed as caretaker manager of the senior team while the Football Association decides on a long-term replacement for Capello.

Pearce's managerial career
1996-97: Nottingham Forest (caretaker)
2005-07: Manchester City
2007-present: England Under-21s
2011-present: Great Britain Olympic team
2012-present: England (caretaker)