Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce is poised to sign a new two-year deal at Manchester City, effectively ruling the ex-England defender out of the running for succeeding Sven Goran Eriksson as England boss.

The Blues boss revealed only recently that he is yet to sign the terms of his employment, agreed upon his appointment as Kevin Keegan's successor 12 months ago, and looks set to seal a deal very soon.

Pearce will celebrate his first anniversary as City manager when his side travel to Portsmouth for their English Premiership game this Saturday, and is expected to have already sealed the deal, worth around £900,000 a year, prior to the Fratton Park meeting.

Pearce has had a verbal agreement with Man City since being promoted from within the club, after taking over from ex-England coach Kevin Keegan, initially as temporary manager, then subsequently announced in a permanent role at the club.

However, it appears he is now ready to make the arrangement official.

He explained late last month: "There is a contract there, but it's not signed. Bits of paper don't really mean a great deal to me.

"To shake the chairman's hand and look him in the eye and get an honest answer from him means a hell of a lot more.

"To be fair, I am not overly interested in a new contract. I get paid enough as it is. The chairman has looked after me from day one and a word of agreement with him is fine by me."

It seems that to avoid any further linking with the England managerial post, the City boss is now willing to put pen to paper.

The FA are yet to announce the short-list for the successor to Sven Goran Erikssson, who will be leaving the post after the World Cup Finals.

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