Pearce happy to keep Distin
11 Aug 2006 - 07:53:07
Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce insists he is happy for Sylvain Distin to stay at the club for the coming season even if he does not sign a new contract.
The French central defender is in the final year of his current deal and has refused to sign an extension, meaning he could walk away from Eastlands on a Bosman free transfer next summer.
Portsmouth and Middlesbrough have both attempted to take advantage of the situation by making bids for Distin, but Pearce would rather see him a City shirt for another season than allow him to leave in a cut-price transfer.
"Until people meet our valuation of Sylvain, he will stay where he is, which will only benefit me because he is a good player," said the former England full-back.
"It would be no skin off my nose if he enters the final year of his contract. I am a football manager, a year is a hell of a long time in football management."