Manchester City managerStuart Pearce has admitted he would consider resigning, if the club sold Micah Richards against his wishes.
Richards has recently been linked with a big-money move to Chelsea, but Pearce claims he can veto any move for the promising 18-year-old defender.
“If I say no to any sale, then I would hope it would mean the club says no, otherwise someone else might as well manage the club,” said Pearce.
“The bottom line is that I have never suggested for one minute that any of the key players in my squad, like Micah, are for sale.
“I don’t think it is prudent to sell your better players. I don’t think it would be beneficial to this club.
“And I don’t think the kid will come to me and say he wants to go either.
“I think he wants to stay here. I would if I was 18 and my manager had picked me when I was just a pup.
“I want to keep the better players at this club and drive it forward, not backwards.”
