Pearce Stays .... Dale friendly .... Kev aims high


Staying

By Andy Leggott
April 21 2002

Keegan announces coaching role for Pearce. Rochdale announce August 5th friendly with City. Keegan aims for the Champions League on his return to the Premiership.

Pearce to Stay

Kevin Keegan has confirmed that a coaching role has been found at City for Stuart Pearce. Pearce, who retires from playing after today’s final game of the season, had been linked with the vacant Coventry job. That is looking more unlikely now that City have confirmed that they want him to stay on. Keegan will sit down and talk with Pearce after the Portsmouth game and it is widely thought that Pearce will jump at the opportunity to learn the managerial ropes under Keegan.

Rochdale friendly

Reports from the Rochdale official site are saying that City will play a friendly at Spotland on August 5th with a 7.45pm kick off. The friendly is the honouring of a commitment made by Joe Royle during his time as City boss. With all due respect to Rochdale, it is not the type of friendly that Keegan was looking for. He had stated at the start of this season that he intends City to participate in higher profile pre season friendlies. I fully expect City to announce some type of European tour as well as this friendly. Watch this space.

Keegan aiming for the Moon

Kevin Keegan was widely reported in Saturday’s newspapers as saying that he will be aiming for a Champions League place when he returns to the Premiership next season with City. This is typical Keegan motivation and what every Blue should expect from him. He is quite right in his belief that aiming to finish 17th is not good enough for a club of City’s size and that they should indeed be aiming high. Whether they can realistically challenge for a Champions League place is another matter. He achieved a top three finish with Newcastle on their return to the top flight, but whether he will with City really depends on the calibre of player he can bring in. The jury is still out on this one, but boy do I hope you can deliver Kev.

Pompey report

I’m off to Maine Road now but just a reminder not to expect a match report until tomorrow. Its party time and I’ll be in no fit state later.

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