Pearce is not OK for a long-term England job

LONDON - Reuters

England’s caretaker manager Stuart Pearce would be happy to lead the team at Euro 2012 but still does not feel he has enough experience to take the job on a permanent basis.

The 49-year-old, who named his squad yesterday for next week’s friendly with Netherlands, has been put in charge by the English FA on a one-off basis but is available should the widely reported appointment of Harry Redknapp not materialize.

“For me to look at a long-term situation is difficult but the one thing that is sure, whatever happens in the summer, I have made it clear to the FA that I am more than happy to take the team next week and if they need me to, to the finals,” Pearce told reporters. “Beyond that, at this stage of my development, it’s not for me.”

However, since Fabio Capello’s sudden resignation from the job earlier this month, his name has again been linked although Tottenham Hotspur manager Redknapp remains the overwhelming favorite to be offered the job at least for June’s Euros.

After next week’s game at Wembley, England has two more warm-up friendlies against Norway in Oslo on May 26 and at home against Belgium on June 2.

The team opens its Euro 2012 campaign against France on June 11 in Donetsk, Ukraine.