Pearce agrees to England U21 role

Pearce was linked with the England job in 2006

Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has accepted the job of succeeding Peter Taylor as England Under-21 coach on a part-time basis.

Pearce, 44, will be appointed subject to an agreement being reached between the Football Association and City.

He said: "Hopefully they can finalise one or two things and I do not see any reason why that shouldn't be the case."

Pearce spoke to the FA last week but encountered resistance from City who felt he should focus on club matters.

If he is given permission he will take charge until the end of the summer's European Championship in Holland.

The former full-back, who won 78 England caps, was linked as a potential successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2006 when City were going strong in the Premiership.

But their form tailed off as speculation continued, before Steve McClaren was given the job.

City are wary of a repeat and if Pearce took the job he would have friendlies during the season - starting with Spain on Tuesday 6 February - before the summer campaign when England face the Czech Republic, Italy and Serbia.

On stepping down, Crystal Palace boss Taylor said: "Anybody coming in would have to commit a lot to the job."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6301317.stm