Sparkle gone as jaded Jewell rules out City

PAUL JEWELL last night insisted he will not be taking over as manager of Manchester City.

Bookmakers made the 42-year-old favourite to take over the Eastlands hot-seat, following his resignation at Wigan and City’s sacking of Stuart Pearce.

But the Liverpudlian insists he has nothing planned for the summer, other than “recharging the batteries” — even though he is heading to Manchester today.

Jewell was charged with improper conduct and/or bringing the game into disrepute by the Football Association following comments made about referee Phil Dowd after the Premiership defeat to Arsenal on February 11.

He joked yesterday: “I’m going to Manchester tomorrow — I’ve got an FA hearing — but I don’t think they can fine me because I haven’t got a job.

“But I’ve told the chairman (Wigan’s Dave Whelan) I’m not going to Manchester City — I looked him in the eyes because I’ve got a good relationship with him.

“I think too much of Wigan to do that. I’m not going anywhere. It’s been on my mind for a while so I told him as quickly as possible to put things in place.

“I thrive on pressure — I’m not frightened of it — but I just want to recharge the batteries because it’s been a tough old season. I’ll be back sometime — but I haven’t got a job to go to at the moment. I’m just looking forward to a nice summer off.

“It’s nice to wake up and worry about what the weather’s going to do — it’s a nice situation to be in.”

Jewell, who made sure of a third successive season of Premiership football for Wigan with a 2-1 win at Sheffield United on Sunday declared himself “physically and mentally drained”.

It’s understood Manchester City want a European coach, with former Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal and current PSV manager Ronald Koeman the strongest candidates.

Others in the running could include ex-Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri, former Liverpool coach Gerard Houllier — now enjoying a successful spell at Lyon — and one-time England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.