Nick Cushing, Arsenal’s primary target to replace Jonas Eidevall as their new women’s team manager, has said he expects to remain with New York City FC.

The former Manchester City women’s manager has seemingly ruled himself out of the running to take up the position in North London and is not interested in the role. No contact has been made between Cushing’s representatives and Arsenal.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of New York City’s crucial play-off tie away to Cincinnati on Saturday, Cushing said: “I can confirm that I will be back here next year.”

The 39-year-old manager, whose family live in the United States, is under contract with the Major League Soccer side until the end of the 2025 season and is happy with the project at NYCFC, owned by City Football Group.

Arsenal are yet to conduct any interviews and are still at an early stage in what is an ongoing process to find Eidevall’s successor, with various candidates under consideration. The Swedish coach stepped aside on October 15 with two years remaining on his contract after a period of disappointing results.

Director of women’s football Clare Wheatley is leading the search for the new manager and was being supported by Edu who left his role as sporting director earlier this week. His departure is unlikely to significantly affect the recruitment process while interim sporting director Jason Ayto has been and will continue to be involved.

Arsenal are happy with the coaching set-up they have in place and have placed Renee Slegers as interim head coach up to and including Arsenal’s home Champions League fixture against Juventus on November 21.

She has guided the team to two wins over Valerenga in the Champions League and West Ham United in the Women’s Super League, and a 1-1 draw against Manchester United last Sunday. Arsenal next face Brighton on Friday evening.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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