Ian Pearce

Family pressures and that old chestnut of basic geography appear to have scuppered City's hopes of a transfer deadline day season long loan move for strapping Fulham centre-half Ian Pearce.

The 31-year-old defender was understood to be the centre of the Canaries' attentions yesterday as manager Nigel Worthington looked to bolster his stuttering side with an experienced Premiership operator whose first-team chances at Craven Cottage have been limited by the emergence of youngsters Zat Knight and Zesh Rehman, plus the presence of Carlos Bocanegra and Alain Goma.

In the end, however, Pearce pulled the plug on the proposed move for the sake of his young family.

The fact that he was born and bred in Bury St Edmunds and is believed to still have family in the area just didn't quite ease his relocation fears.

“It is frustrating to get so close to sorting a deal out only for it to fall through,” said Worthington, who has already seen £2 million target Clinton Morrison slip through his fingers following an eleventh hour intervention from Crystal Palace for the out-of-favour Blues striker. “But we have to respect the player's wishes,” added Worthington.