Pearce keen on City job

Stuart Pearce has placed an early claim on the Manchester City job when Kevin Keegan steps down as manager in 18 months.

Keegan has already confirmed his intention not to seek an extension to his current deal, a move that has at least given the Blues board plenty of time to find a successor.

Having joined City initially as a player under Keegan in 2001, Pearce has now moved onto the coaching staff and was promoted to joint assistant-manager following the departure of veteran Arthur Cox last summer.

Pearce has already had one stint as manager, a single year as player-boss with Nottingham Forest eight seasons ago, but has made no secret of his desire to have another crack at the job.

The former England full-back has regularly been linked with vacancies elsewhere, most notably Oldham, but has always resisted the temptation to leave City even though Keegan has stated publicly he would not stand in his way.

However, it seems Pearce’s sights are set on following Keegan into the Blues hotseat and he has already informed club directors of his desire.

“Kevin Keegan has made it clear he will be leaving in 18 months’ time, so you don’t have to be Einstein to realise there will be a manager’s job available at a really good club,” he told BBC GMR.

“I will certainly be applying for it, although whether the board deem me good enough to take it, I do not know.

“By that time, I will have been here for five years, so at least they will have had a good look at me and they are aware of my feelings with regard to being Kevin’s successor.

“Obviously, the issue is out of my hands but it is a fantastic job for anybody – I just hope it will be me.”

The likes of Sam Allardyce and Gary Megson have previously been linked with the role, although the continuity aspect of Pearce’s candidacy could appeal to Blues chief executive Alistair Mackintosh and chairman John Wardle.

Though there have been some troubled times over the last 18 months, the club have made giant strides on and off the pitch since Keegan replaced Joe Royle in 2001 and will be looking to scramble back into the top half of the table with a home win over Tottenham tomorrow.

Record signing Nicolas Anelka is back in contention after his recent ankle problem, although with Jon Macken and Robbie Fowler performing well in tandem recently and the City support annoyed with the controversial Frenchman over an interview in which he is alleged to have claimed he wanted a move to a ’big club’, Keegan may opt to keep his £13m (€18.8m) man on the sidelines.