'I wasn't sacked,' says Sven

Sven Goran Eriksson insisted today he had not been sacked as England coach but instead was “fed up” with constantly reading about his private life, rather than focusing on football.

The Swede will step down from the high-pressure role after this summer’s World Cup bid in Germany – two years before his contract is due to end.

The 57-year-old has been at the centre of a media storm following successive weekends of damaging revelations in the News of the World.

Eriksson and his advisers were led to believe an undercover reporter was a rich Arab sheikh who wanted to give the Swede a new job.

The newspaper went on to claim that Eriksson had named three clubs in a discussion on corruption.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore today announced an independent inquiry into transfers deals concluded since January 2004.

He said: “This inquiry has the unanimous support of all 20 clubs, that is very important when you consider that matter.”

“We do not know who will conduct the inquiry but it will be a wholly independent one and it will be chaired by a QC or a professional person of similar standing.”

Eriksson’s departure from the top job after the World Cup was announced by the Football Association last night.

Today, Eriksson and FA chief executive Brian Barwick presented a united front, seated next to each other at a packed press conference in London’s Soho Square.

The England coach said there had been a “private agreement” that he would leave the job after this summer’s competition.

“We always had discussions about after the World Cup in 2006, we had a private agreement that – to a certain point – I was allowed to leave after the World Cup. It’s been very open.

“If I felt I was being sacked, I would not be sitting next to Brian here today.”

Eriksson said he thought people were tired of reading about his life outside of football, which has included affairs with TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson and FA secretary Faria Alam.

“It’s better to have a job with a lot of pressure than one without pressure but sometimes I get fed up reading about my private life – what I did, what I said.

“I think people are getting fed up with reading this. We should be talking about football.”

Eriksson said he could not comment on the News of the World reports due to legal reasons, but added briefly: “I think scandal, that is my feeling about it.

“It could only happen in this country, that’s for sure.”

“Some time ago I felt that there was too much circus around my private life and maybe this was one too many.”

He said it was now time to focus on this summer’s tournament: “Nothing will prevent me from concentrating on the World Cup”.

Eriksson said he had spoken to England captain David Beckham last night, moments before the announcement of his departure: “I felt that I had to speak to my captain and inform him what was coming.”

He said Beckham had told him he was sorry that the Swede was leaving but would not reveal other “private” comments that the footballer made.

Eriksson said he had greatly enjoyed coaching the England team: “It has been, so far, five fantastic years and I hope that the best will come next month until 9, 10 July, the final.”

He would not speculate about his future but insisted he had no offers from any clubs or thoughts about where he would like to go.

“In football you do not look for jobs, you are asked, you are offered a job. I am not worried about that at all.”

Mr Barwick gave his support to the Swede, and described him as a work colleague and a friend.

“I am giving Sven an opportunity to take the best English side since 1966 to the World Cup and that’s my way of saying I have a fantastic degree of confidence in his ability to deliver for us.”

He said he thought the interest generated by the recent media would die down as people focused on the World Cup.

“I am convinced that very quickly we will slot back in to try and concentrate on the job in hand and the job in hand in this place is to make sure England go to the World Cup … to try and win it and bring it home from Germany.”

Mr Barwick refused to talk about Eriksson’s successor or his severance deal.

But speculation was rife with bookies Ladbrokes and William Hill backing Bolton boss Sam Allardyce as the favourite.

Alan Curbishly, manager of Charlton Athletic, and England’s assistant coach Steve McClaren are also in the frame.

Reflecting on Eriksson’s ability, Barwick gave a boost to the Swede ahead of this summer’s tournament: “I think he has been a fantastic coach for England, he has every confidence of mine.”

But when asked if he would stay in the job if England won the World Cup, Eriksson simply shook his head and said: “If we win the World Cup – which we can do – thank you and goodbye.”