SVEN FUTURE IN LIMBO
Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has denied that the club have made a decision on the future of Sven-Goran Eriksson.
The former Thai prime minister, who installed Eriksson as manager after buying the club last summer, is reported to have told the Swede that he is "not the right man for the job" and that will not be managing the club next season.
"We have made no decision," said the Shinawatra. "We will do an evaluation at the end of the season."
Speaking at a golf tournament in Beijing, the Thai would not be drawn on whether the club was chasing Portuguese coach Luiz Felipe Scolari or former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who have both been strongly linked with the City post. Mourinho is currently a free agent following his dismissal from Chelsea whilst Scolari has announced his intention to step down from the Portugal job after Euro 2008.
"They all - Sven, Scolari, Mourinho - they are great coaches, great managers," he said.
The former England manager, who has received huge backing from supporters at Eastlands, exceeded his original target of a top ten finish although Shinawatra expressed his disappointment at City's mid-season slump from third place in the table.
"During the season, we may complain for improvement but that's normal for every club," said the former Thai prime minister.
"But we will discuss at the end of the season what needs to be changed, what needs to be added to the success of the club."
Eriksson on the other hand, looks set for a third spell at Benfica after reportedly holding talks with the Portuguese club.
A delegation from Benfica including president Luis Felipe Vieira and captain Rui Costa, the club's future sporting director, were filmed by Portuguese broadcaster SIC at a hotel in Manchester, believed to be preparing to speak to the former England manager.
Current club Antonio Camacho recently quit the Lisbon club after declaring himself "unable to motivate the squad."
Benfica spokesman Ricardo Maia refused to comment on the speculation, saying: "We will not comment on any suggestions of a future Benfica coach now.
"Whether someone is or is not in Manchester to try to persuade Eriksson, we have nothing to say about it."
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