Football Pearson sees plenty to be positive about as he starts City job
I see this as a good club and I like the ethos on how the club is structured
NIGEL Pearson hopes his stay as Bristol City manager will extend well beyond his short-term deal and says everything at the club is “geared towards a positive future”.
The 57-year-old held his first media conference yesterday since he was appointed to the post on Monday, with a morale-boosting 3-1 win at Middlesbrough sandwiched in between.
Although Pearson only held a watching brief for that Championship game at the Riverside Stadium, City’s much-needed victory, following a dreadful run of results, has given him a great platform to build on for the rest of the season.
Pearson, who spoke to the players at the team hotel prior to the game, said: “The important thing was to change our fortunes. The preparation was good from the coaching staff. We needed a good team performance first of all - and that’s what we saw. A good tenacious team performance.
“We allowed our pace on the counter-attack to come to the fore. The most important thing was a positive performance and I felt we had that.
“We had to show a bit of resilience and to score three goals in the first half was possibly a relief for the players. Some players will naturally take plaudits. For me I look at it as a collective effort.
“The performance suggested we have the capacity to turn things around. But it was just one result. We have to build on that. It’s vital that there is a clarity of message for the players. I always try and keep things simple. It really is making sure people understand their role in how we collectively move forward.”
Pearson had been out of work since he was sacked by Watford last year, a decision which surprised many in the game since Watford had been seven points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League when he took charge, and three points above the relegation zone when he was sacked.
Pearson said of the approach from City: “I was pleasantly surprised about being asked to have a conversation to take the job. It felt a positive move to make. I was pleased we could speak frankly about what was needed in the immediate future.
“I see this as a good club and I like the ethos on how the club is structured. The infrastructure is geared towards a positive future. We have to make that happen. there’s lots of good things coming for the club. I felt this was a real stimulus for me from the initial conversations.”
Although Pearson’s initial contract is only until the end of the season, the former Sheffield Wednesday defender is already looking longer-term.
He said: “I’d like to (stay longer) I’d like to be here longer but as Steve (Lansdown) said it’s an opportunity to have a look at each other. I fully understand the situation.
“I heard (Middlesbrough manager) Neil Warnock speaking in his pre-match press conference about short-term contracts... We came to a decision very carefully and I’m happy in my skin and I’m happy to fulfil my obligations.
“It’s not something I’m concerned about. I take the job on thinking that potentially it will be longer. But myself and the staff have to stabilise the situation first.”
The victory at Middlesbrough has certainly given Pearson and his staff a good start in that respect, with the Robins now 13 points clear of the relegation zone prior to last night’s matches.
He added: “Yes (the long-term future here excites) - I would imagine our fanbase doesn’t want to hear the word potential too much.
“What we have is a really good foundation to make the next step and everybody’s aspirations is to get out of the Championship.
“What I do identify with is the club’s ethos on how they do that. What we have to do is finish the season with a positive message. The medium and long-term future is bright but having the infrastructure is one thing, doing it is another. I’m one for living in the moment. We have to be pragmatic at the moment. The club has so much going for it, we have a fantastic fanbase. Geographically we have the chance to have an identity of our own.”