Eriksson vows to continue as coach despite losing two allies

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON has vowed to continue as England coach despite facing a new year without two of his closest allies after Steve McClaren ended his involvement with the national team.

McClaren understandably feels that he should be devoting his full energies to Middlesbrough, with the north-east club now enjoying a revival under his astute management.

That, however, is a considerable loss for Eriksson, who highly valued McClaren's coaching abilities and his close links with the England players.

The news emerged less than 24 hours after Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier, who appointed Eriksson and had consistently backed him amid a turbulent recent spell, was himself forced to resign, but the developments were not related.

Eriksson declared that his commitment to the England cause had not been eroded by Crozier's decision to leave the FA by the end of the year.

There is, however, no guarantee that his new boss will give him such unstinting support, either in his job or against demands by leading clubs to reduce the number of friendlies.

After all, one of the reasons behind Crozier's demise was that chairman Geoff Thompson was not willing to stand up to the demands of leading Premiership chairmen ahead of a re-election battle next year.

While Tord Grip and Sammy Lee remain on the England coaching team, Eriksson now has to find another lieutenant, possibly on a full-time basis.

With Peter Taylor back on club duties and Alan Curbishley ruling out any involvement, one of the strongest candidates is already at the FA Stuart Baxter, a former manager in Swedish club football who is in charge of the England Under-19 side.

McClaren had managed to combine both club and country duties, but finally the strain told on the former Manchester United assistant coach.

"After the World Cup, I agonised for many weeks and, at that time, I let my heart rule my head and felt that I could carry on and give both jobs the kind of commitment that is required," he said.

"But I soon found that that wasn't to be and it would be inappropriate for me to carry on. I feel the time is right now because it gives them seven months to find somebody else.

"The last two games with England, we had 10 days away and I came back and I just felt, as I've said all along, that my main priority is Middlesbrough.

"Sven was disappointed, but he understood and respected that. He's been a club manager and an international manager so he knows the pressures are immense, and likewise Adam."

Eriksson responded: "On behalf of everyone connected to the FA and the England team, I would like to pay tribute to Steve. He has been a highly valued member of the set-up."