Sven slams Munto 'cheats'

Eriksson: Notts return

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Sven Goran Eriksson has slammed the mystery men behind Munto Finance for 'cheating' not just himself but everyone at Notts County.

The former England boss was unveiled as director of football at Meadow Lane last summer after an apparent multi-million pound takeover, with the new owners vowing to fund a push for Premier League football inside five years.

But the true identity of the backers was never revealed and they withdrew their involvement in December, with chief executive Peter Trembling buying the club for a nominal fee and having to steer them clear of administration.

Eriksson resigned in February following the club's takeover by Ray Trew, waiving a bumper pay-off, but he returned to Meadow Lane on Tuesday for the club's end-of-season presentation evening.

"I felt very sorry about it. But I had to leave," he told Sky Sports News.

"And, of course, I'm angry about the people who brought us here.

Cheated

"They cheated me, they cheated Peter and Tord (Grip, Eriksson's assistant), they cheated all the fans and the players - everyone at the club."

Munto Finance left the club £7million in debt, which has already been halved by the new owners.

And Eriksson, who has agreed to return to international football to take charge of Ivory Coast at the World Cup, insists he is in the dark over how that debt was built up by Munto.

"I can promise you I didn't get that money," added the Swede. "I didn't get what I was promised at all, but that's not a big deal."

Eriksson is still held in high regard at Meadow Lane for the manner in which he conducted himself throughout the Munto fiasco.

And he returned to congratulate his former players on going on to win the League Two title, despite the turmoil the club have been put through by Munto.

"He walked away from £2 or £3million, or whatever he was owed," said midfielder Ben Davies.

Delighted

"But for him to come back to the club, to put on a show and see the players and the fans, the lads are absolutely delighted."

Steve Cotterill was appointed as County's new manager on a short-term deal in February and he steered the Magpies to promotion in style, winning 14 of his 17 games in charge so far.

Lee Hughes' 33 goals have made him Notts' top scorer while Davies was named the club's player of the year after scoring 15 from midfield.

Davies, 28, joined the Magpies on a three-year deal from Shrewsbury last summer and is hoping Cotterill stays to lead the Magpies in League One.

"The chairman's speaking to the gaffer this week and everyone at the club's desperate for him to pledge his future to the club," Davies added.

"Hughesy's signed a new contract and there's 11 other lads out of contract but I think they all want to stay.

"I think the next couple of weeks will determine all that."