Pearce takes Forest manager’s job

Stuart Pearce is to return to Nottingham Forest as manager.

The Shepherd’s Bush-born 51-year-old will take over on a two-year contract on 1 July.

The ex-Forest captain, who began his career at Wealdstone, initially turned down the job for family reasons but had a change of heart.

“I had so much on of a personal nature that it wasn’t the right time,” he explained.

“But when they asked if I would take it from the summer I jumped at the chance. Everything seems right.”

Pearce spent 12 years as a player at Forest, where he also had a spell as caretaker manager.

He has since managed Manchester City and the England Under-21 side.

“The honour of coming back into this club is massive but what I have done here as a player is irrelevant,” he added.