Newburytoday interviews Stuart Pearce
IN an interview with Newburytoday.co.uk, Stuart Pearce has spoken of his pride at being selected as caretaker manager of the England national football team.
Pearce, who lives near Hungerford, was appointed caretaker boss last Thursday (February 9) following Fabio Capello’s resignation last Wednesday evening (February 8).
Capello, aged 65, publicly challenged the Football Association's decision to strip the captaincy from John Terry, who faces a charge of racially abuse against Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand, with a court case scheduled for July.
Pearce, who is also the current boss of the England
Under 21s, has not issued an official statement since being selected as caretaker manager but this week talked to Newburytoday.co.uk about Capello’s resignation ahead of the friendly against Holland at Wembley on February 29.
“It came as a bit of a shock but it’s ideal that I fill in on a part-time basis and I will speak to the FA to see how I can help out beyond that,” he said.
“I don’t want to go into the ins and outs of Capello’s resignation but I can say I’m immensely proud to be in charge for the Holland game.”
The 49-year-old, who is a familiar face in West Berkshire having launched an after-school club at Chilton Foliat Primary School and presented pupils at John O’Gaunt Community Technology College with awards and exam certificates, admits Capello’s departure leaves the national team in a challenging position ahead of the European Championships in Ukraine and Poland in June and July.
“Any team that loses its manager a couple of months before a major tournament faces difficulties but I’ve helped Fabio over the last three and a half years and I’ve worked with all the players who are in the squad now, so I’m happy to take charge for the next game,” he said.
“The Football Association is in the process of looking for a new manager. It’s a fantastic job and one that any manager would be immensely proud to do.”
But Pearce, who captained both Nottingham Forest and England, turning out 78 times for his country between 1987 and 1999, would not comment on whether he was interested in England management role on a full-time basis.
“I enjoy the job I do with the Under 21s at the moment and I’m very pleased and proud that the FA has given me the job of Olympic manager and now the caretaker role of England. I’m looking forward to carrying on with the under 21s and managing the Great British team in the London Olympics,” he added.
