Nigel Pearson: Leicester manager confirms he has not been sacked but refuses to discuss confusing sequence of events

Reports on Sunday night claimed Pearson had been sacked only for the club to issue a statement to deny the rumours

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson (Getty Images)

Nigel Pearson faced the media on Monday afternoon less than 24 hours after he was reportedly sacked by Leicester City in what has been a confusing and embarrassing episode for the Premier League club.

Pearson was reported to have lost his job following an altercation with Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat, in which he put his hands around the throat of the Scotland international after being accidentally tripped up. However, after hours of silence, Leicester eventually released a statement on Sunday night that confirmed Pearson was still their manager and would lead the team against Arsenal on Tuesday.

Pearson was due to face the press on Monday afternoon even before the confusing episode occurred, but while he confirmed that he remains the Foxes manager, he refused to talk about what really happened in the 24 hours after the defeat to Palace.

"I am, today, managing this club as I have been for the last three and three-quarter years, and I am looking to get my team as best prepared as possible for a big game against Arsenal,” said Pearson.

"I understand the interest and you wanting to ask questions, but I have loyalties to the people I work for, my staff and the players, which really is more important to me than trying to clarify things for a story which was based on speculation."

Pearson added that he has spoken with the club about the situation surrounding his future, but insisted that those talks will remain between the people involved.

"I've had conversations, absolutely," he said when questioned if he had spoken to the board about his job.

"I am always happy to take the responsibility that being a manager brings.

"The club made a statement and I'm not going to speak about it.

Pearson man handles McArthur (Plumb Images/Leicester City FC/Getty Images)

"We have a game tomorrow and it's important my focus, and the focus of the players, is on what we can do tomorrow night rather than talk about something I'm not prepared to talk about.

"I always have a very good working relationship with the owners and I'm sure I will moving forward.

"If I have got things to say I will say it in the appropriate manner to the appropriate people.

"In an ideal world I would rather the story not be out there. I had an interesting Sunday."