Manchester City

Man City unveil Pearce as manager
Manchester City have named Stuart Pearce as their new boss. The 43-year-old has held the position in a caretaker role since Kevin Keegan quit as boss two months ago. Pearce, a former England captain, has led the club to eighth place in the Premiership and on the brink of a place in the Uefa Cup. Chairman John Wardle had intended to name Keegan's successor in the summer but changed his plans given the impact Pearce has had on the Eastlands outfit. The announcement will have the overwhelming backing of the City squad, and the club's supporters and should guarantee a full house for Sunday's crucial clash with Middlesbrough. Victory is almost certain to guarantee European football next season, an unthinkable prospect when the former England skipper took charge. Martin O'Neill and Iain Dowie were originally linked to the post but four wins from eight games, and a current seven-match unbeaten run, made all talk of alternative choices irrelevant. And, rather than wait until Sunday, Wardle opted to link the appointment to the unveiling of a mosaic in honour of the most successful manager in the club's history, Joe Mercer.

Man City 1-1 Middlesbrough
Hasselbaink's brilliant free-kick fired Middlesbrough ahead Mark Schwarzer saved an injury-time penalty as Middlesbrough earned a place in next season's Uefa Cup. Robbie Fowler missed the kick which would have seen City qualify at the expense of Boro. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's brilliant 30-yard free-kick put Boro ahead, but Kiki Musampa levelled after the break. City boss Stuart Pearce brought on Nicky Weaver and pushed goalkeeper David James up front in a frantic finale, but Boro held out. It was a dramatic end to a match in which City dominated possession without fashioning clear chances against a determined Boro back line. The visitors seemed content to invite City to attack from the start. Their first real chance came when Shaun Wright-Phillips burst through and lofted the ball over Mark Schwarzer, only to see it drift wide while Middlesbrough's sole chance in the early stages were limited to a long shot from Boudewijn Zenden. Nevertheless, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion. Hasselbaink's brilliant free-kick in the 23rd minute curled and swerved before cannoning in off the underside of the bar. City responded well and continued to look threatening, particularly down the right-hand side and also through Wright-Phillips who saw another shot just clear the angle of post and bar. But for all their huff and puff, there was precious little end product and City were pleased to see a long shot from Doriva flash wide. City boss Stuart Pearce needed a stirring half-time team talk and his words had a remarkable effect. The home side were level within 59 seconds of the restart, Musampa taking full advantage of some hesitant Boro defending to weave his way into the box and slot home. The crowd played their part in firing up the City players as Boro found themselves on the back foot - although their defence was well-marshalled. There were some fractious moments on the field in the passionate atmosphere and Ray Parlour was substituted after narrowly avoiding a second yellow card for a foul. The atmosphere reached fever pitch late on as Pearce replaced Claudio Reyna with keeper Weaver and moved James into a centre-forward role. And the game took a dramatic twist as referee Rob Styles penalised Franck Queudrue for handball - only for Fowler to miss the chance to fire City into Europe. Man City: James, Mills (Croft 84), Onuoha, Distin, Thatcher, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Barton, Reyna (Weaver 88), Musampa, Fowler, Sibierski (Bradley Wright-Phillips 54). Subs Not Used: Macken, Jordan. Booked: Barton, Distin. Goals: Musampa 46. Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Parlour (Morrison 69), Boateng, Doriva, Zenden, Nemeth (Downing 54), Hasselbaink, Morrison (Reiziger 84). Subs Not Used: Cooper, Knight. Booked: Queudrue, Zenden, Boateng, Parlour. Goals: Hasselbaink 23. Att: 47,221 Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).

Pearce backing Fowler after miss
Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce refused to criticise Robbie Fowler after the striker's late penalty miss cost his side a place in the Uefa Cup. "I have been there before. Robbie has been sensational for me. The day I came in I said it's a squad situation," he said after the draw with Middlesbrough. "Credit to Middlesbrough, they came here and shut up shop. Steve McClaren is a good manager. "That is probably the best the players have played for me." Pearce said the decision to replace Claudio Reyna with goalkeeper Nicky Weaver late on so keeper David James could play as a striker had been pre-planned. "On Saturday I thought about what would happen if the game was a draw with a few minutes to go," he said. "At that stage we were going route one and I just thought, with his height, he could unsettle their defenders and I think he did." Pearce said he was relishing the chance to take charge of City next season. "I think the honeymoon period finished as soon as I got this job," he said. "I have got a great deal of hard work to do here."

Wright-Phillips to stay with City
England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has reiterated that he plans to stay at Manchester City, despite them missing out on a Uefa Cup place. The 23-year-old has been linked with Chelsea and Arsenal but says he has no intention of leaving. "I signed a four-year contract last August and when I signed it was with the intention of staying," he said. Meanwhile, City boss Stuart Pearce will seek talks with Atletico Madrid this week over the future of Kiki Musampa. Musampa scored City's equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough on Sunday - a match in which Robbie Fowler's injury-time missed penalty cost the Blues a place in the Uefa Cup. With debts of about £62m there were suggestions that a bid of £20m could tempt City to cash in on Wright-Phillips, regarded as their biggest asset. But the England man is keen to stay at the City of Manchester Stadium. "That is where I want to be and until my contract runs out I am not thinking of moving. It is my home," he said. "The fans have really taken to me and I think that is because I have come through the ranks. "I came here when I was 16 and went from the youth team to the first team and the fans supported me all the way. I am settled here." Speaking about Musampa, Pearce said he had been impressed by the impact of 27-year-old Musampa. "I have spoken to his agent on a couple of occasions and over the next few days I will speak to him again and Atletico to find out exactly what the situation is," he said. "He has done well since he has been here. He scored three goals, which has done him no harm. "But the best thing is that he enjoys being at the football club and is enjoying his football."

Man City youngsters sign to stay
Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce has got Stephen Jordan, 23, and Lee Croft, 19, to commit to the club. Jordan has signed a two-year extension and Croft will stay for another season. "I told them both from day one when the club were negotiating with them that to stay at a club of this size is a fantastic thing," Pearce said. "I'd certainly have signed a contract a lot quicker than they did, but I understand how football is nowadays and that things have to be right." Jordan broke into the City first-team in October and started 19 times in the Premiership this season, although he did eventually lose his place to Ben Thatcher. Croft had a spell on loan with Oldham over the New Year but was given a chance by Pearce when he succeeded Kevin Keegan as manager, coming off the bench seven times.

Wolves end interest in Bischoff
Manchester City defender Mikkel Bischoff will not be moving to Wolves - where he has had two loan spells during the 2004/05 season. The former Copenhagen player, 23, made 11 league appearances during his time at Molineux, scoring once. "We have decided not to take up the option available to us as part of the loan agreement to buy Mikkel," boss Glenn Hoddle told Wolves' website. But Hoddle is set to hold talks with Tottenham midfielder Rohan Ricketts. Ricketts, 22, who also spent time on loan at Wolves last season, has not been offered a new deal by Spurs boss Martin Jol.

Manchester City let McManaman go
Manchester City have released former England midfielder Steve McManaman. The 33-year-old struggled to make an impact at the club since joining from Real Madrid in 2003 because of a recurring Achilles injury. "Steve is going away on holiday for a break from football," Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce told the Manchester Evening News. "He will decide then where his future lies - but it is not here. Our finances meant we couldn't keep him." McManaman was brought back to the Premiership by former City boss Kevin Keegan. The midfielder made 44 appearances for City, his last being the home defeat to Bolton in March - which was also Keegan's final match in charge. McManaman had already made it clear he would not seek a new deal at Eastlands if he did not feel he was at full fitness. McManaman moved to Real from Liverpool on a Bosman free transfer in 1999 and capped his first season at the Bernabeu with a stunning strike in the Champions League final against Valencia. He also won the league title in 2001 and 2003 and the Champions League for the second time in 2002. But the 33-year-old has not recaptured that form back in the Premiership and has already hinted he could retire from the game.

Man City allow Ellegaard to leave
Manchester City have released Danish goalkeeper Kevin Ellegaard, manager Stuart Pearce has confirmed. The 22-year-old joined City in July 2002 but only made three appearances for City, failing to dislodge first Nicky Weaver and then David James. He went out on loan to Blackpool last season but only made two more appearances at Bloomfield Road. "I just feel with the amount of goalkeepers we have we could not keep Kevin," Pearce told the club website.

Man City give Wigley coaching job
Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has given a backroom role to ex-Southampton manager Steve Wigley after ending Asa Hartford's long stay at the club. Hartford will step down as reserve-team boss after spells as player, coach and caretaker manager totalling 18 years. Wigley, 43, will replace him after leaving his youth-team role with Saints earlier this week. "I am simply delighted to be joining Stuart and City," Wigley said. "It is most definitely a club on the up." Wigley replaced Paul Sturrock as Southampton boss in August last year but was himself ousted in December when Harry Redknapp was brought in. He returned to his role as director of youth football at St Mary's in March. Pearce added: "Steve is an excellent addition to my team. "Not only does he have experience as a Premiership manager, he has experience at all levels of football. "He is enthusiastic, a real team player and everything I'm looking for in a coach. He will be a great link - in particular between the academy and the first team." Hartford, 54, made over 320 appearances for City in two spells as a player in the 1970s and 1980s. He returned to the club as assistant manager to Alan Ball in 1995 and has since held a variety of coaching roles. City chairman John Wardle said: "Asa has been with us for many years and has done a good job. "He will always be very welcome at City, he has been a great servant but the manager wanted to bring in a new face. "The club has got to move onwards and forwards - and that sometimes means a change in personnel."

Jordan signs two-year City deal
Manchester City defender Stephen Jordan has signed a new two-year contract with the club. Jordan has come through the City ranks and the 23-year-old has broken into the first team during the past campaign, making 21 outings. City boss Stuart Pearce told the club website: "He has done very well this season, particularly in the latter part of the campaign. "His signing personally gives me a good range of options at left-back." Jordan added: "I joined Manchester City at the tender age of eight and I have spent all my career here. "I love the club and the fans - I'm only too happy to be staying here for at least two more years."

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