Stuart Pearce, the England Under-21 manager, has ruled himself out of the manager's job at West Ham United that was vacated when Alan Curbishley resigned on Wednesday.

The former Manchester City manager spent two seasons at Upton Park as a player and is among the early favourites for the role, but the 46-year-old insists he will not leave the national team set-up.

"You can bet with me," Pearce said. "I manage this team [the England Under-21s]. I am very proud to do so and will not be stepping down from this job, because I love the job I do.

"I said to the FA bosses when I took this job that I will honour my contract. I have said that many times before in the past, and that applies today.

"Mark Noble [the West Ham and England Under-21 midfielder] has to know that I will be his manager next summer when we go to the tournament."

Pearce rejected the suggestion that, for the first time, an overseas coach was more likely to be appointed at Upton Park. "There are a lot fantastic English managers about," he said. "What happens nowadays is we knock what we have got under our noses, and that can be absolutely fatal.

"Alan Curbishley is a fantastic manager with a great deal of experience who has proved himself time and again in the Premier League. That is what Alan is in my eyes, and that will never diminish."

Pearce also played for Newcastle United where the future of manager Kevin Keegan is unclear. Pearce says the domestic game would be poorer without the man called a Messiah on Tyneside.

"I have worked for Kevin at club and international level as a coach and a player. Kevin is a fantastic and honourable man, very committed to what he does and, if he is outside English football, I think it is a shame for English football.

"The feeling of emotion in the Newcastle area for Kevin Keegan with the supporters is unrivalled anywhere in the country. I have worked for that club and know what the passion is like up there. Hopefully, Kevin will be involved in the game."