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Robinho has responded to reports Pele has criticised him for joining Manchester City, insisting the Brazil icon would have done the same.

Former Santos forward Robinho joined City from Real Madrid on Monday in a shock transfer-deadline-day move after having looked on course for a transfer to English Premier League heavyweights Chelsea.

Pele is reported to have said Robinho "needs some serious counselling" as he had been "badly advised" by people close to him but the 24-year-old has hit back saying: "I accept Pele´s criticism as he is the king of football, but if he had been me, he would have done the same."

Everton owner Bill Kenwright wants a billionaire investor to buy the club to allow them to compete with Manchester City.

At an EGM on Wednesday at Goodison Park to discuss the proposed new Everton stadium in Kirkby, Kenwright outlined the financial might now needed for the club to survive in the current football climate.

He said: "I cannot go on like this, we need a new owner and we will continue to try to find one."

Emile Heskey insists he never dismissed his chances of playing for England under Fabio Capello.

The Italian surprised many observers when he selected Heskey above Peter Crouch for last month´s friendly with the Czech Republic and stunned even more by keeping faith with the Wigan man in his World Cup squad when Michael Owen was not picked.

"I never gave up, and that was shown when I got back into the squad for the two qualifiers with Israel and Russia," he told www.thefa.com.

England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant manager´s job at West Ham following Alan Curbishley´s resignation.

Former England defender Pearce spent two seasons with the Hammers from 1999 and is among the early favourites to succeed Curbishley.

However, the 46-year-old ex-Manchester City manager maintains his current focus in on duties within the England Under-21s and said: "You can bet with me. I will take your bet any time. I manage this team. I am very proud to do so and will not be stepping down from this job, because I love the job I do."

Everton new-boy Louis Saha believes his fledgling partnership with Ayegbeni Yakubu can force Everton into the Barclays Premier League´s top four.

The French striker has joined Everton after frequent injury problems dogged his Manchester United career. But Saha believes they are now behind him, and that he can form a front-line pairing with Yakubu that could make the difference between fifth place last season and a top-four finish this term.

He said: "It is about progression for Everton. When you finish fifth then you want the Champions League the next time. I will try to help them do that, but talk is not good enough."