Pearce in U-turn over England job
Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce says he would be willing to talk to the Football Association about replacing Sven-Goran Eriksson as England manager.
Pearce's comments mark something of a U-turn after he previously said speculation linking him with the post was "pathetic" and "embarrassing".
Now Pearce, whose team play Charlton on Sunday, says: "It would be absolute folly to rule myself out of any job.
"And disrespectful not to talk to those who were offering me employment."
Eriksson is to stand down as England boss after the World Cup finals in Germany this summer.
Martin O'Neill, who is also being linked with the vacant post at Newcastle, is thought to be the leading candidate but Sam Allardyce, Alan Curbishley and Guus Hiddink are also being strongly linked.
Pearce has impressed during his brief spell in charge at Eastlands and his international experience as a player could go in his favour, but he admits he is not the best-qualified manager for the job.
"I'm a realist and the realism is that there are a lot of people better qualified than me," he added.
"I would have to have my chairman and the board's consent, but if I was invited I would go down there and be very open-minded about what they had to say."
Tottenham boss Martin Jol, however, believes fellow Dutchman Guus Hiddink could be the right man for the job.
Jol said: "In terms of his CV there has not been a coach quite so successful as him.
"He has so much experience having led Holland and South Korea to the semi-finals of the World Cup. He's a great coach, has won the European Cup and he's a great candidate."
But Hiddink, the PSV Eindhoven and Australia coach, may have damaged his chances by saying he would only take the job if he could go part-time for the first 12 months.
He is contracted to PSV until the summer of 2007.
"I will not break my contract with PSV but it is possible to take on the England duties as well for the first 12 months," he told the News of the World.
"It is something I have been able to do with the Australian national team.
"London is only one hour from where I live in Eindhoven so the distance will not be a problem.
"I am used to living out of a suitcase. It has worked for me in the past."
Pearce plays down England chances
Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce believes he will not become the next coach of the England national team.
"I don't think when the job is being given out I will be in the hot seat, that's for sure," said the 43-year-old.
He initially said it was "embarrassing" to have his name put forward once it had been announced that Sven-Goran Eriksson would step down from the post.
Pearce then made a U-turn saying he would be willing to talk to the Football Association about the vacancy.
Pearce is one of four English managers to have been linked with the coveted position.
Bolton's Sam Allardyce, Charlton's Alan Curbishley and Middlesbrough's Steve McClaren have also been tipped for the post.
Allardyce has already put his hat in the ring.
"If the FA are talking about the next England manager being British it is good news for everyone in this country," he said.
"The public seem to want that, so obviously I would want to go that way - not just from the point of being in contention but because I am English.
"It is very important for this country - and for the FA - to go down that route because we are all taught through their system and we are all going through the curriculum for the badges and qualifications."
Meanwhile, Charlton's Curbishley, who has been backed by Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, has asked the FA to make their decision following the conclusion of the Premiership campaign.
"The situation should be clarified," said Curbishley.
"In my opinion, the FA should turn round and say they will not make an announcement until after the final Premiership game on 7 May, which will just allow everyone to get on with what they have to do.
"All we are getting at the moment is 'Curb Watch', 'Pearce Watch' and 'Sam Watch', plus a fictional horse race with our heads on little horses seeing who is in front.
"It is not distracting but all three of us have important jobs to do. There is still three months of the season left and every day someone is saying something else.
"Who knows what people are thinking. I just think we should all be given a chance and the FA say they are not going to talk about it until after the season is over."
It's a high-profile job, it would certainly appeal to Martin O'Neill
However, the FA may overlook all three and opt for former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, who is the bookmakers' favourite.
The 53-year-old Northern Irishman, who has also been strongly linked with Newcastle manager's job, has yet to make any comment on the speculation.
O'Neill left Celtic last summer to spend more time with his sick wife Geraldine.
