Jewell denies Man City rumours

Paul Jewell has tonight 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 City’s sacking of Stuart Pearce and his own resignation at Wigan yesterday.

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

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 today: “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 before declaring himself “physically and mentally drained”, continued on Sky Sports News: “I need a break.

“I’m tired and weary – and I’m not hiding that – but so is any other manager at the end of the season. The chairman has been very understanding.

“We’ve climbed mountains at Wigan in six years and I just feel it’s time to step aside and take some time off.

“When I went to Wigan we were in the Second Division, we’ve been to a major cup final, finished 10th in the Premiership and we’ve given the supporters something they never thought would happen.

“It’s been a great time – and having played there for three years and managed for six, I have nothing but affinity for the place.

“Any job in management is difficult pressure-wise – but I think I’ve done well enough at Wigan to walk away with my head held high.

“They are in a fantastic situation no-one would have thought they’d been in six years ago.

“I think I’ve taken them as far as I could. It’s been a wonderful time and the chairman has been outstanding – it wasn’t nice telling him.

“The players have all been on on to me, to a man, and that means a lot to me.

“There’s been nothing but success but I can walk away with a job well done and leave them in good hands with Chris Hutchings.”

As for the future, he added: “If a job comes on that appeals to me I’ll look into it – I’ve spoken to Alan Curbishley and Gordon Strachan who have taken time off and aren’t doing so bad.”

Whelan expressed concerns about Jewell’s health yesterday, but the latter added: “There are no health problems, I’ll have a holiday next week.”

“I want to spend time doing what I want to do. I’ve had lots of calls asking if I’m okay. I’m fine – I just want a break.”