Sport 11-03-2005 Pearce Takes Over After Keegan Exit who: Kevin Keegan what: Replaced as manager of Manchester City by coach Stuart Pearce where: City of Manchester Stadium, MANCHESTER when: Friday snippet: "Manchester City have confirmed that manager Kevin Keegan has left the club 15 months ahead of his expected departure date," says the BBC. "The 54-year-old goes after just over three-and-a-half years in charge to end his career in management." Keegan had announced his intention to leave at the end of next season but The Mail`s Ian Ladyman says "had become frustrated recently by news that he would not be given any money to spend in the transfer market this summer". Nevertheless, Sam Wallace of The Independent is in no doubt that chairman John Wardle sacked the former England striker. "The low-profile multi-millionaire chairman of City - who owns the JD Sports chain with fellow board member David Makin - has been a staunch defender of his manager," says Wallace, "but finally decided that the time was right for Keegan to leave." The club`s official statement said Keegan had gone by "mutual agreement" and confirmed that former England hero-turned-coach Stuart Pearce is taking charge of first-team affairs until the end of the season. "City, currently floundering in mid-table following Monday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Bolton Wanderers in Keegan’s final game, are now likely to turn to former Southampton manager Gordon Strachan as a permanent successor," predicts The Telegraph`s Christopher Davies. "Floundering" or otherwise, some might say City have done well to be in the top flight at all - they were in the First Division when Keegan took over from Joe Royle in 2001 and they only narrowly avoided coming straight back down. Bolton manager Sam Allardyce and Crystal Palace`s Iain Dowie are thought to be on the shortlist at the City of Manchester Stadium. "City`s preferred choice is current Celtic chief Martin O`Neill," says The Guardian, "although it is difficult to see why the Northern Irishman would want to leave Parkhead for a club currently £62million in debt, especially when City`s neighbours at Old Trafford have him on their list of potential candidates to replace Sir Alex Ferguson." [... more]

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