Stuart Pearce insists he will not be distracted if he takes on
the England Under-21s job.
The Manchester City boss is adamant he will be able to cope with
the two roles and stressed his club will always be his No 1
priority.
City say they have no problem with Pearce taking over for the
European Championships in the summer, but do not want him involved
in next week's game against Spain and another warm-up match against
unnamed opposition next month.
"Anyone who wants to put every defeat or draw down to the fact that
I have been away for two days needs to get real," Pearce told the
Daily Express.
"My involvement would only be to the end of the tournament in June
and that is fine by me. I don't see the downside.
"There will be no scouting as such because the squad is virtually
picked already. And by Tuesday night of next week my four days in
charge during the season will already be half over.
"If City fans don't know that I will always put this club first,
then they don't know me by now.
"We had a great feelgood factor around this club when Micah
Richards was picked for England so why shouldn't we be proud if
another employee could be with the national team?
"I know I cannot afford to take my eye off the ball at City. We are
not good enough and I am not good enough to be distracted just one
per cent. But if I thought the England job would create that
situation I simply would not do it."
City chairman John Wardle and chief executive Alistair Mackintosh
claim that Pearce could be distracted if City were dragged into a
relegation battle.
But the former England player dismissed their concerns and insisted
that the two roles would not overlap.
"Manchester City are, and will always be, my number one priority,"
added Pearce.
"And in my own mind I feel that me being involved with the cream of
this country's young players can only benefit this club in the long
run. I am not stupid. I weighed up the situation carefully before I
decided the two jobs would not overlap."