Pearce accepts Under-21 post
Bolton hold Gunners
Beckenbauer backs 2018 bid
—– Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce accepts the Football Association’s invitation to replace Peter Taylor as England Under-21 coach.
Capped 78 times at full international level, he would take the post on a part-time basis whilst continuing as City manager.
The FA will now hold talks with the Manchester City board over the proposed appointment.
Pearce says: “The club have been extremely open-minded but with concerns about time constraints on my job.
“I can guarantee them that I will be working absolutely solidly whether I take the Under-21 job or not. They know that and they know what sort of man I am and I think it would be of massive benefit to this football club.”
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—– Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers meet in the FA Cup for the third season in a row and, predictably, there’s little to choose between them. The first FA Cup tie to be played at the Emirates Stadium ends in a 1-1 draw.
The Fourth Round has still yet to produce a shock as League One Nottingham Forest lose 0-3 at Chelsea while Championship Southampton lose 1-3 at Manchester City.
In the Black Country derby, West Bromwich Albion win 3-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
—– Oldham Athletic move back up to second position in League One with a 3-2 win at Northampton Town.
—– Franz Beckenbauer - president of the organising committee at last summer’s World Cup in Germany - gives his total backing to England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
A member of FIFA’s executive committee, he tells the News of the World: “I am 100% behind an English bid. England has everything - the best stadiums and the best crowds and infrastructure.
“The only country I see with an obvious chance is England. Who else can bid from Europe? France has already staged it in 1998 and Italy do not have the infrastructure.”
The 2018 tournament is almost certain to be held in Europe under FIFA’s rotation system.
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