US mystery men meet Pearce

Chris Bailey

April 10, 2007

STUART PEARCE: Aiming to go unbeaten

CITY manager Stuart Pearce has met the club's prospective buyers.

The mystery Americans, who are thought to be in the driving seat to take control, visited the training ground over Easter though the boss is not clear about their plans or timetable.

And he insists that he does not see the rest of the season as a job interview after the Blues reached the accepted 40-point safety mark with a 3-1 win at Fulham.

"I am kept informed of takeover discussions. I have met individuals and various parties have been to the training ground and they have been to watch games," he revealed.

"The chairman and chief executive tell me as much as they can and as much as I want to know.

"I don't feel any more secure in my job now than I ever have. You can never feel secure in this job. It is physically impossible to feel secure as a football manager.

Takeover

"In the summer there may be a takeover and they might say they need a new man at the helm.

"What I will say is that it does not affect my planning. In some ways with regards planning for the future it is of no relevance to me what the club tell me. I know my job, what is coming through from the Academy and what areas we need to strengthen.

"I have list of targets to give to the chief executive and I will tell him that's what I want and that he has to deliver it for me if he can. The chairman and board will, I am sure, do everything they can to support me.

"I don't see the rest of the season as an audition for my own job."

Despite his side recording a fifth away win in seven attempts, Pearce insisted that he went home from Craven Cottage slightly disappointed.

"Safety from relegation is something I haven't thought about, my coaches haven't thought about and the players haven't thought about," he said.

"My only thought now is can we go to the end of the season unbeaten - that is the challenge. We want to finish as high up the league as we can and conceding a goal at Fulham cost us a place in the table.

"I will never turn around and say I am happy with the 40 points. That is a million miles away from how I think. I love the high expectations of our fans."

What do you make of Pearce's comments? Have your say.

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Ex-Pat Nigel, DUBAI UAE (10/04/2007 at 09:11)

Respect him or not you cannot but admire his pragmatic approach . He is almost a living tribute to the saying that "if you meet with triumph and disaster and treat them just the same you will be a man my son." Well Pearce man you have to learn that COMS should be a fortress where teams are afraid to come.Unless the home crowd is entertained on a regular basis it will dwindle. It is significant that City's goals have come from breaking on the counter attack. This will not happen at home and that is why our home record is so bad for goals scored. Now is the time for SP and his staff to address this in the remaining home fixtures.

Guvnor's Friend, Redditch, Worcestershire (10/04/2007 at 09:44)

So Stuart you "...love the expectations of our fans..." wel the vast majority of them expect you to sling your hook and take your idiotic sidekicks with you and allow us to bring in a manager with a more attack-minded approach to proceedings. One who can identify talented players who will blend together as a cohesive unit, play in a positive manner and hopefully achieve winning performances. Pearce is out of his depth as a manager. I think he is a very very good defensive coach and our record in this department is pretty good but, hell, the man is so negative. We are bored to death - 10 goals in 16 home games is bloody disgraceful. I am sick to death of the drivel that he spouts and as for Wrigley and Faz as his backroom staff they are utter garbage. Get rid of the lot asap.

RJKS (10/04/2007 at 09:46)

Why at home did we have five in midfield & one upfront against the worst away attack in the league (Charlton) coming off the back of two away wins ?. I suppose not losing the game was the plan ?.

Jack Thorley, Trafford (10/04/2007 at 10:03)

The league table should include the amount of money that each position will be worth at the end of the season.It is a crazy situation where a win can be worth an extra million then just 1 goal conceded loses you
£500,000.That is pressure!
If there is to be a takeover it has to done quickly,City have in the past never to my knowledge signed a player on a pre contract agreement,they always seem to be last in the queue for players,while others clubs move quickly to secure the players they want.You can bet that as soon as Preston are out the running for promotion a club will snap up Nugent,he is now an England international and will have a dozen clubs to select from.If the takeover drags on then it will be the same scenario during the summer with City making last minute transfer deals for players we have never heard of.While we are discussing transfer fees,it was revealed that the Reading team cost in total 2.5 million to put together,I know that many of us were mystified by the departure of Steve Coppell after only one month in charge,but I for one think that there was a lot more involved in his reasons for leaving than he was not prepared or "allowed" to reveal.

DJ, Chorlton (10/04/2007 at 10:17)

First Pearce's comments: the guy contradicts himself. He says that "safety from relegation" was never in the minds of the coaches. But Pearce himself has spoke in the media about getting to 40 points first to secure our status. The man is an idiot.

A for the American takeover: I don't believe it is that anymore. I think we are looking at investors with a stake in the club rather than a full takeover. If this was a Gillet/Liverpool style takeover the identity of the buyer would be out by now. Perhaps stock exchange rules say they would have to declare themselves. Someone like OB1 can correct me if I'm wrong about that. Wardle will sell his stake in the club in exchange for a seat on the board.

Shaun, At My Desk (10/04/2007 at 10:22)

This is still being called a "takeover" so I presume that the idea is to buy out Wardle and co(eliminating the debt),stabilise the club financially,and make sufficient funds available to
1)Secure the services of Richards,Barton,and Distin
2)Sort the out of contract wheat from the chafe
3)Install a credible management setup.
4)Attract better players than we already have.

Am I being naieve?

PhilB65, Sheffield (10/04/2007 at 10:26)

Spot on DJ and Guvnor's FRiend. The man is contradicting himself. He most certainly has talked about relegation. The summer will be a good time for him to go with dignity to his beloved England job and for City to get a proper manager who can start to achieve the potential that this club has.

Dave Pickup (10/04/2007 at 11:03)

I believe that Ian Beale is leaving Eastenders and has already ot a new job--stunt double for Start Pearce. He can prowl the touchline and be insulted as much as he wants then without Stu getting upset. From Eastend to Eastland! What a job.

KOB, Staffs (10/04/2007 at 11:05)

I thought that it was common knowledge about Coppell's swift departure from City? Lets put it this way, it had nothing to do with football and more to do with missing a friend.

Jesper, Copenhagen (10/04/2007 at 11:06)

Lame comment about the safety from relegation, all I remember from the past months is his talk about being in a relegation dogfight, scrapping away and reaching the 40 point mark. This is embarassing for SP and a sign he does not know in which direction he wants to move. If we win, its Europe, if we lose, its a relegation dog fight. How about a plan for the season rather than shifting around. On the back of our good run and probable safety SP should start to think about next season rather than talking such rubbish.

Blue-suede-dude, behind enemy lines (10/04/2007 at 11:08)

Is it a coincidence that the top 4 clubs in the PL for the last 5 years (Arsenal/Scousers/Rags/Chelsea) are being coached by non-English managers? Besides Allardyce, and maybe Steve 'Coward' Coppell, the best coaches are foreign. I am not one for chopping and changing managers and I would have loved SP to have succeeded but he hasn't. End of. If we get £10m + this summer, I am not sure SP is the man to spend it.

But if next August, SP is still in charge, then lets get behind him and the team.

CITD!

Pravda (10/04/2007 at 11:08)

So SP doesn't know their plans or timetable,if they exist that is. Maybe he's not been 'cute' enough to break 'their' code!!!!

Andy Oliver, Brighton (10/04/2007 at 11:14)

I can't believe the ingratitude and negativity on this site to the man who has saved us from relegation.

Our team is full of kids, rejects, free transfers and has-beens. HE HAS NOT HAD A BEAN. Give him some credit. Instead of Pearce out, why don't you lot go and get another hobby.

JamesP, Manchester (10/04/2007 at 11:18)

Your negativity on here stinks!!! Pearce out and who in??? look at Villa!!!! They brought in Martin O'Neill (big name manager), had a big takeover and where are they now??? Granted we all moan and have an opinion, but you sound like the wife!!!! Support the team (which includes Pearce and his backroom staff etc.) even if we do buy Mido, Kewell, Beattie and we end up losing out on Mpenza, Ball and Distin. I'd like us to put a 8/10 million bid for big name player i.e. Podolski, Schweinsteiger etc. rather than waste 8 on Nugent or alternatively go for the likes of Eastwood, Sidwell, Sharpe, Healey etc. CTID

woohoo (10/04/2007 at 11:26)

So why can't the "journalists" at the MUEN find out who these prospective buyers are after all this time? I've noticed that they are quick enough to reel off random prospective player purchases and other non-news items enough times....

The Pope, Rome (10/04/2007 at 11:28)

Well we can speculate all we want. Unless these guys come in with MAJOR money I don't think there will be a change in manager cos we'd be replacing like for like.
And if we end up in the top ten having got to a FA cup 1/4 final then for an inital outlay of 200-500k after selling and buying last summer it could be deemed that Pearce has done very well.
I was inside certain areas of the ground on Friday and there was an American bloke knocking about in a suit - he could have been with one of the players from either team however especially as I saw him snogging his missus rather than watching the game! - I hope he's not the investor!!

Shaun, At My Desk (10/04/2007 at 11:52)

KOB,staffs. Elaborate.

humps, hampshire (10/04/2007 at 11:58)

jesper do you ever wright anything worth while moan moan moan you moan when we win and you moan when we lose

Bluetooth, Manchester (10/04/2007 at 11:59)

SP your job will be a lot safer if we play some attacking football now we are safe and try and blood young players like Sturridge & Abdoun. There are 14,000 season ticket holders still to renew. They are far more likely to do so if we see some entertainment at the COMS, before the end of the season. Getting those supporters to stay with the club, is the best thing you can do for yourself & the club.

As for the investors it looks increasingly likely that they aren't launching a full takeover. This doesn't really matter. The key thing is that they don't add to the clubs level of debt and hopefully reduce it.

If the club could pay off it's short term loans, it would become profitable and far more attractive to other investors. Plus it would free up bit more cash to spend on players. These guys might be buying a stake, with that in mind. I hope so, because that would be far healthier than a debt laden takeover along the lines of the swamp. Time will tell.

Weasel (not McKay), Stockport (10/04/2007 at 12:04)

Shaun, not sure the ed would allow KOB to eloborate. Not sure KOB could have put it much more simply to be honest.

UNBITTER BLUE, URMSTON (10/04/2007 at 12:10)

I dont think anyone can go more into detail about the Coppell exit, although I heard it involved 2 ex players!! one scored against the filth 5-1 and another was a striker signed from Northampton, Adcock? Those are the rumours!

DJ, Chorlton (10/04/2007 at 12:20)

As for the rumours about Coppell I must have been on a different planet. The rumour I heard was he was hounded out of town by some 'over zealous' fans who could not forgive him for playing for the Dark Side.

Bluetooth, Manchester (10/04/2007 at 12:31)

Andy Oliver you must be having a laugh. Why should we be grateful to SP for saving us from relegation? We aren't Watford or Sheff Utd.

This club with our squad, should be in the top half of the table as an absolute minimum. SP has had £14M to spend. Not big money in the premiership, I grant you. But as much as most of the teams around and above us. Those teams also don't have the benefit of the best academy in the league, like we do.

As for those comparing SP to O'Neill. That is nonsense as well. Villa were a team in free fall with a mixture of mostly bad & average players plus big money O'dreary signings just collecting their wage. Just keeping them out of the relegation dogfight this long is a major achievement. Many had Villa as favourites out of the 'bigger' clubs to go down this year. Wait till O'neill has brought in his own players, like SP and then judge him.

StretfordBLUE, Virginia (10/04/2007 at 12:32)

SP has the right attitude, he has to get on with it. City is beginning to show some consistency. Is it possible the team is more relaxed away from home which is why we are winning? Those fans who whinge about SP and the team need to support our CITY, especially at home. Let's hope we have a "fuller" house on Sat against the Pool. Come on City!!!

Ray (10/04/2007 at 12:34)

Andy Oliver, Brighton What planet are you on? "HE HAS NOT HAD A BEAN" The problem is he has bought two Mr Beans. £13m largely flushed down the loo. Mpenza and Ball land in his team almost by accident and he has been spending most of the second half of this season being linked with players. The difference with O'Neil at Villa is that anyone who knows anything about football will tell you he WILL get it right whereas with SP we really dont know. The lastest speculation is that Billy Davies has been sounded out.

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