Leicester manager Nigel Pearson has admitted he was disappointed not to be named Blues boss when he was interviewed for the role after Joe Royle’s departure in May 2006. Pearson, who was the assistant manager at West Brom at the time, was interviewed by then-Town chairman David Sheepshanks and chief executive Derek Bowden but lost out to retiring Blues skipper Jim Magilton.

Pearson said: “I was disappointed at the time, certainly. It’s a lovely club in a lovely part of the world. My wife’s got some family down here as well, so I always enjoy coming down here.”

The 48-year-old says he can see why he was overlooked in favour of the Northern Irishman back then: “He was a local hero, so it was probably understandable.”

Having had spells as caretaker-boss at Albion and Newcastle, and after a short time in charge at Southampton, Pearson took over as manager at Leicester for the first time in the summer of 2008, taking them to the League One title in his first season in charge.

In June 2010 he moved on to Hull before returning to the King Power Stadium in November 2011 after Sven-Göran Eriksson’s departure.

<i>Photo: Action Images</i>

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

Photo: Action Images

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