Eriksson row set to rumble on

Newspaper reports suggest Sven-Goran Eriksson will be urged to confirm whether or not he intends to stand down as England boss after the World Cup, so the Football Association can begin the search for his successor now if necessary.

Eriksson was taped telling an undercover reporter that he was willing to leave his contract two years early after this summer’s finals in Germany – for the right price – and was indiscreet about some senior international players.

It has been revealed the FA stepped back from taking Eriksson to task over his remarks because they did not want to disrupt the England team ahead of the World Cup.

However, media speculation is still rife in several newspapers that the FA is resigned to losing the Swede this year and would like to start looking for his replacement.

The Daily Mirror claim a senior FA insider said: “It’s an open secret that Sven is going to go after the World Cup – and now he doesn’t have any option.

“We are backing him for Germany because what matters more than anything is giving the team the best possible chance of winning the World Cup.

“But we’ve got to start the search for a successor as quick as possible and Sven owes it to us to make that easier by confirming he is going.”