Football: Pearce at peace in England's rest home

WORLD CUP: Nottingham's finest takes a break from high-pressure management as Bolton plunderer ponders war on two fronts; Glenn Moore finds the Forest manager content to be just a player for a change

It was late 1989 and Stuart Pearce was still settling into his international career. With 16 caps in four seasons he had gradually assumed Kenny Sansom's mantle but not everyone was convinced.

He was full of heart and totally dependable, but at times he still appeared raw to the point of recklessness. The tough-tackling cruncher of non-League days never seemed far away.

Then Italy came to Wembley for a friendly. It was the first time Pearce had faced real quality apart from his debut against Brazil when Muller had given him a roasting.

"This will find him out," thought the doubters and, when he twice clattered into Roberto Donadoni early on, it looked as if they were right. "Too many wild and late foul tackles," wrote Jimmy Hill in one newspaper. "He was lucky the referee left his red and yellow cards behind. To be top class he'll have to sell himself less and make his tackles on his feet, not his backside. Winterburn, when he came on, looked nimbler."

Eight years later Pearce is still in the England team, the only survivor of that Italian encounter likely to play in Wednesday's World Cup tie at Wembley. Moreover, he has kept on his feet, being booked just six times and never sent off in 72 internationals.

He has also found a new role on the pitch as a central defender and, off it, as Nottingham Forest's player-manager.

He is the first manager to be called up by England and he admitted after training at Bisham Abbey yesterday that he was "enjoying being here and not having to think about putting on a training session. Instead I am using it as a learning process picking up things from Glenn [Hoddle] that can help me.

"Anything we do that is beneficial and keeps players interested and alert I will take back with me. I am following sessions much more closely now."

Even for Pearce, widely regarded in Nottingham as a modern-day Robin Hood and Superman rolled into one, the combination must be daunting.

"Managing a Premier League club is probably the hardest job in the game," he said. "It can be mentally tiring but there are good people helping me at Forest. I occasionally wake up in the middle of the night and think of things, but I am good at switching off.

"I have always enjoyed having responsibility throughout my career and this is just a development of that. Most of the harder work, the office and paperwork, is being done by other people. It enables me to come here with a clear mind.

"If situations occur that I have to deal with they know where I am, but the people at the club can deal with most things.

"England is still the most important thing for me. If Glenn had said you can't do both I would have chosen to play for England rather than manage Forest."

Hoddle, who was a player-manager for Swindon and Chelsea himself, is more than happy with the effect management is having on Pearce. He dropped him from England's last game, in Georgia, because he felt he had not regained form or sharpness after injury, but said yesterday: "Stuart's form has come back since he was appointed manager. I felt it had dipped previously but he's been as good as ever since."

Pearce is thus likely to play alongside Tony Adams (if fit) and Gareth Southgate in a back three. "That is my position now, I'm no longer suited to the wing-back role," he said. "The move has probably prolonged my international career."

And just think of the possibilities it would offer if Forest had the millions of some of their Premiership rivals. Imagine the scene on Wednesday. Italy win an early corner and, as Gianfranco Zola goes over to take it, Pearce goes to mark Pierluigi Casiraghi. "Bearing in mind I will be marking you for the next 90 minutes I was wondering if you fancied a move to Forest?" he inquires. Talk about an offer you can't refuse.

Unfortunately for Pearce, Forest's financial paralysis means his player- hunting operates at a less rarefied level. "It's a problem finding time and players," he said. "I have seen a few games and seen my reserves, but it has to be when the time is right.

"The most important thing for me is to get Stuart Pearce on the pitch as a player. Nottingham Forest can't afford to be without a player at the moment, so I have to get my rest. It is harder to pick up players. You used to be able to get bargains from lower divisions."

Pearce was one himself. Bobby Gould bought him to Coventry City from Wealdstone for pounds 25,000 14 years ago solely on the strength of one tackle which put an unfortunate Yeovil winger into the advertising boards.

He joined Forest two years later and has been there ever since. Asked if he will still be there if Forest go down, he replied: "I've done my talking on that in the past. I've stuck with Nottingham Forest when they have gone down before. That is something I've not even thought about at the moment.

"I am only on a short-term contract to the end of the season. The club are in a transitional phase on and off the pitch. I'll have to see what the new consortium, whoever they are, want at the end of the season and what I want.

"It was a shock to be offered the job. I wanted to go into management but thought I'd do two or three years as an assistant first. I've not done any coaching before. I don't think it has changed me. If I had to describe myself in a word it would be 'honest'.

"I do look at the wider plan of things more when on the pitch, but Liam [O'Kane, the coach] does the substitutions. At half-time I just come in and sit down, have a drink and a collect my thoughts. I let the coach give the team talk and have my input after.

"I have drawn from the people I have worked under [Bobby Gould, Don Mackay, Brian Clough, Frank Clark, Bobby Robson, Graham Taylor, Terry Venables, Hoddle] but I think it is important to develop your own personality.

"If you ask the players if I am doing a lot of screaming they might say 'No, he isn't'. There are many ways to manage, screaming and shouting is not always the best way. Sometimes a quiet word does more good."

He is asked, mischievously, if he thinks he might be back at Bisham in 10 years' time as the England manager? For a moment a smile threatens to play along the resolute features. Then he regains the controlled expression. "I wouldn't even think about it at the moment. I am just pleased to be here as a player."

It is an unlikely concept, but not as much as it was six months ago. Nor would it be the first time he has surprised people.