Manchester City chairman John Wardle has confirmed they have started looking for Kevin Keegan's successor.
Keegan is unlikely to stay at Eastlands beyond the remaining 18 months of his contract, leaving the Blues board looking for a new face to lead the club forward in the years ahead.
City coach Stuart Pearce has already put his name forward and while Keegan refuses to publicly back any contender, he believes the combative former England defender would be a good choice.
Wardle claimed it was a compliment that a football man of Pearce's standing is interested in the job and said his application would warrant major discussion when the time comes to eventually appoint a successor.
“We have discussed the succession of Kevin Keegan at board level – we would be foolish not to have done so”, said Wardle.
“He has made it very clear he will be leaving at the end of next season and we have a responsibility to look at the situation and make sure we plan for it.”
