Still - Sven's days numbered

Eriksson's agent paints bleak future for City boss

By James Pearson   Last updated: 29th April 2008

Still - Sven's days numbered

Eriksson: Days numbered

If Dr Shinawatra was going to give Sven a message of support I think we would have heard it.

Still
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Agent Athole Still believes Sven-Goran Eriksson's days at Manchester City are numbered following a fall-out with owner Thaksin Shinawatra.

The former England boss is unhappy Shinawatra has publicly criticised Eriksson following the team's disappointing second half of the Premier League campaign.

Tuesday's papers have suggested Eriksson will be sacked this term, however, Still has quashed talk the Swedish tactician will walk away from the remaining two years of his Eastlands contract.

Although Still has not had a lengthy chat with Eriksson following his meeting with club owner Shinawatra on Sunday, he does not think things are 'looking good' for the manager to stay on.

"I don't know, but the way that it's looking odds-against," he told Sky Sports News on Eriksson being City manager next season.

"Just because of the developments in the last couple of days. If Dr Shinawatra was going to give Sven a message of support I think we would have heard it.

"It's not looking good. Clearly there has not been the best of discussions between with himself and Dr Shinawatra.

"The only thing I can say with assurance is that Sven-Goran Eriksson will not be walking. I know they revere him in Manchester, from top to bottom.

"You walk if you feel that you have not done a good job and that you're not worthy of the position. In Sven's case that is very, very far from the true situation.

"I'm not spoken in depth with Sven since the meeting on Sunday."

Unhappy

Still has confirmed Eriksson was unhappy with Shinawatra after he was publicly criticised over their disappointing sequence of results.

"The story broke in the media about 10 days ago when Dr Shinawatra made some comments about being dissatisfied with the team and indirectly with Mr Eriksson," he continued.

"Sven was very unhappy with that, in the sense that if there is dissatisfaction it should be discussed internally first."

"Well he hasn't seen very much of him. That's a fact. Until last Saturday's game I don't think he was there in six weeks.

"Even before the time he was there in March. He's been back to Thailand. He's been all over. There hasn't been a great deal of discussion between them for many, many weeks."