Manchester City Football Club News

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:48,000

Pearce happy to keep Distin

11 Aug 2006 - 07:53:07

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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."