Sacking Eriksson would be 'mad', says lawyer

A leading expert in sports law has claimed the Football Association would be “mad” even to consider sacking Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Eriksson reported back for duty at Soho Square this afternoon after a weekend watching Arsenal in Amsterdam knowing his future is still on the line despite last night’s departure of Mark Palios.

The 56-year-old is due to meet with FA officials tomorrow to give his version of the fateful telephone call with acting chief executive David Davies that resulted in erroneous statements being released about the Swede’s relationship with secretary Faria Alam.

It is the interpretation placed on those conversations by the 12-man FA board at an emergency meeting on Thursday that is expected to decide whether Eriksson gets the chance to lead England into the 2006 World Cup.

However Russell Thomas, senior partner with Manchester-based Glaisyers solicitors and an expert in contract law, reckons Eriksson’s already solid position has been strengthened even further by revelations that FA communications director Colin Gibson tarnished the coach’s reputation by his efforts to keep Palios’ affair with Alam out of the newspapers.

“If this story is true, the FA are in a very serious position and they would be mad to even consider trying to get rid of him,” said Thomas.

“In effect, Sven could resign with immediate effect, claim constructive dismissal and breach of contract and stand an exceedingly good chance of winning both cases.

“By speaking so openly to a member of the press, the director of communications has exposed the FA’s position completely.

“Legal argument was on Eriksson’s side anyway given he has a right to silence about his private life, but if the FA were trying to engineer a situation where they could get him out anyway, it has just been blown out of the water completely.

“Eriksson could reasonably claim to have no trust or confidence in his employers whatsoever and it would be difficult to argue.

“If I were in the FA’s position, I would be urging the people at the top of the organisation to distance themselves completely from this apparent deal and try to convince him that it will never happen again.”

Palios has now fallen on his sword but, as yet, Gibson’s future has yet to be decided, although it appears inconceivable his resignation offer will not be accepted, especially if Eriksson clings on to his own job.

Senior figures within the FA board are believed to be anxious to remove the Swede from his post, but whether there is quite the same desire to wield the axe amid the blood-letting that has accompanied Palios’ departure remains to be seen.

A formal statement on Palios’ exit is still expected this afternoon but for now Davies will continue as acting chief executive, a position that could easily become a permanent one providing he escapes Thursday’s meeting without censure.

One of his most immediate tasks is to raise flagging morale among junior members of staff, while he was also keen to stress how valuable an asset Eriksson – so respected by the England players despite his mixed record in charge – actually is.

“Sven is one of the outstanding coaches in the world,” Davies told Sky Sports.

“That is why so many people want to hire him. That is why this club or that club or any country seeks his services.

“It is right to say he wants to be coach of the senior England team. He has a consistent track record wherever he has worked and he is popular and highly respected by the players.

“This is a time for us to rally the staff and rally people around,” he said.

“Football is more important than anything. It is a game people care for passionately and we have a responsibility to sort out these problems and come through this period.

“We have had our problems in the past. We had them and we dealt with them and we will do that now.”