New Manager Chosen

Pearson says he is "100 per cent" sure of who he wants to bring in as the new manager, but will keep it a "closely guarded secret" as the individual is currently employed by another club who are not in the Championship. That rules out Mick McCarthy, sacked by Sunderland in March. Martin Allen, Alan Curbishley, Martin O'Neill and Peter Reid can also be crossed off the list of names speculated about. In fact, Pearson says that all of the names talked about so far are wrong, but won't give any further clues as to who it is.

Taylor's departure has been expected for the last couple of weeks, and Pearson says he has spent that time looking at who he would like to get to replace him. He believes that the closed season is "absolutely the right time" to bring in a new manager to allow him to plan the pre-season programme properly.

Pearson has thanked Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan for his professional manner when appointing Peter Taylor, and will do the same when approaching the club that his target is currently an employee of.