Talks will continue over the next week in an attempt to end the impasse over Stuart Pearce's appointment as England Under 21 coach. Despite Pearce claiming that he had accepted the opportunity to succeed Peter Taylor and lead England into next summer's European Championships, it appears a deal is far from done.
Manchester City remain opposed to Pearce getting involved in two friendlies, against Spain on February 6 and as-yet unnamed opponents in March, believing the extra workload would be detrimental to his work at club level. For their part, the FA cannot see the point in appointing a coach for a major tournament who does not then have an input into the build-up games.
All parties believe a solution will eventually be found, although the timing is not ideal with the FA eager to make an announcement as soon as possible given the need to select a squad to face Spain, while City officials are trying to concentrate their energies on bringing in new faces before the transfer window shuts on Wednesday.
"The FA will continue speaking with Manchester City over the next few days with regard to reaching an appropriate agreement with Stuart Pearce to manage England's Under 21 team," said a statement on the FA website. Pearce insists he can fit in the extra work, believing the job can only enhance his ability as a coach and therefore bring added benefit to his club.
However, the many City fans take an alternative view and the Blues board are acutely aware Pearce will leave himself, and them, open to huge criticism should results turn against the club. It is for that reason club officials have refused to be railroaded into letting Pearce have his way, following the manager's surprise announcement after the 3-1 FA Cup win over Southampton.
"The club has not given permission for our manager to be released for England duty," said a statement on City's official website. "We recognise Stuart's patriotism and enthusiasm to assist the Football Association, and Manchester City in turn understands the FA's desire to have him contributing to the Under 21s European Championship campaign. We will remain in dialogue with the FA and hope to reach a solution suitable to this club in the next few days."
Staying on the international scene and after being named the new Scotland boss, Alex McLeish has vowed he would never walk out on the national team. Walter Smith was criticised for resigning from his Scotland post midway through their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign in favour of a return to Rangers.
McLeish assumes responsibility for the remainder of the European campaign, as well as the task of leading Scotland to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa - on a longer contract than Smith had. In the wake of Smith's departure, McLeish confessed that he saw his future in club management - sparking fears he could use the national team as a stepping stone to a top job in the Barclays Premiership.
However, McLeish has assured the Tartan Army he is in the job for the long haul. "I've signed a contract of commitment and I plan to see that commitment all the way through," he said. "I've been in the Scottish game for 30 years, playing at a pretty decent level and I've had success in management as well over the last ten or 12 years.
"People who know me know that, when I go into something, I always give it 100 per cent and give it my very best shot. I'll try to keep improving the good work Walter Smith has done. I talked it over with my family and friends and decided it was a smashing move for me and an honour."
Moving back to domestic issues and Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has called for patience in the club's attempts to sign teenager Gareth Bale from Southampton. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted at the weekend that Spurs had moved ahead of Manchester United in the race to sign the 17-year-old Wales left back, but Levy does not want to rush a deal and could even wait until the end of the season.
It is the first time Spurs have confirmed interest in Bale, a player who Southampton boss George Burley believes should stay at St Mary's for first team experience. "When you are trying to attract a 17-year-old it is a very big decision for him and his family and we are giving all the time in the world for them to make a decision," Levy said.
"January is always a difficult time to buy players and certainly our philosophy here is to end the window, whether it be January or the summer, in a better position than we started, and we have already signed three players early on."
Spurs have bought goalkeeper Ben Alnwick from Sunderland and signed French youngster Adel Taarabt on a long-term loan from Lens whilst Ricardo Rocha has arrived from Benfica for around £3.3million. "Lots of activity often happens in the last couple of days in the window but I would be very surprised if any of our first team players were to leave," added Levy.
"We have a great squad, I think it will improve over time, and unless the right opportunity comes up that will take us further, we are not going to do business for the sake of it."
Moving across to European matters and AC Milan and Real Madrid have postponed Ronaldo's transfer talks until Tuesday after failing to reach an agreement at an initial meeting in Madrid. Ronaldo, 30, is poised to move to the Rossoneri in a reported 7million euros deal and underwent medical tests in Milan last Friday.
Earlier, Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti defended his club's decision to sign Ronaldo. "Ronaldo is not fat," Ancelotti said. "He is a very robust player. I think his problem is the fact that in recent times, he has not had much motivation. From a physical point of view, he hasn't trained much because he has been excluded from Real Madrid's team and he has lost motivation in training. But he remains a great player. In the last five years at Real, he has scored almost 100 goals. No one in the world has done that."
