Pearce - I won't quit as coach

Coach undeterred by prospect of early Euro exit

Last updated: 3rd September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Pearce - I won't quit as coach

Pearce: Committed to role

If we fail to get the desired points we need I will be concentrating on the next qualification campaign.

Stuart Pearce
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Stuart Pearce insists he will not walk away from his post as England Under-21 coach, even if his side fail to qualify for Euro 2011.

The Under 21s must beat Portugal on Friday and Lithuania next week to be in with a chance of repeating their run to the final against Germany last summer.

Failure to qualify would strike a severe blow for Pearce, particularly after the young squad went so close in the last two editions of the tournament.

His plans have already been shaken by injuries to Everton starlet Jack Rodwell, Newcastle striker Andy Carroll and Manchester City defender Micah Richards.

But Pearce insists he has no intention of quitting the role, whatever the outcome of the impending games.

Bottom line

"If we fail to get the desired points we need I will be concentrating on the next qualification campaign," said Pearce.

"It gives me six months to look at other players and get a team ready. I have to bed that in. If we don't do it, we have to rebuild for the next.

"I don't stop people in the street and ask if they are backing me but I like to think people realise I am doing a good job for England.

"You have to ask (FA director of football development) Sir Trevor Brooking if that is the case. If you ask me, 'Am I enjoying my job and am on a learning curve?', then yes, I am. I enjoy this job, that is the bottom line.

"It is fantastic and part of my job is to make sure this age group is as successful as they can be and to promote players into the seniors."

Pearce witnessed England's World Cup woe first hand this summer while assisting manager Fabio Capello in South Africa, and accepts the pressure is on to avoid another international washout.

But the former Three Lions defender knows disappointment can often follow success, and is being careful not to pin too much on the tournament.

Perspective

"You have to take everything in perspective," he added. "Holland won it three years ago and then failed to qualify for the following campaign.

"Germany are the Under 21 champions and they are out already. In some ways we are victims of our own success.

"We got to the semis in 2007 and that was the furthest we had got in 25 years and we followed that up by reaching the final.

"Out of the eight teams who made it to Sweden last summer for the finals, only Sweden this time have definitely qualified. The rest of us all need points. Spain need four out of six and we need six."