FOREST fans may feel a bit bemused to see Sven-Goran Eriksson sat among their fans, cheering on the red half of Nottingham next season.

But they'd be well advised to look closer.

For Paul Baskcomb, a Forest season ticket holder for 30 years, is a tried-and-tested Sven look-alike.

Paul is so convincing that he's been invited to appear on BBC impressionists' show Dead Ringers, as well as making 20 appearances at council and media events in the name of Sven.

"I won't be able to make it to the Forest-County match on Saturday but, if I had, I'd probably have put my Sven 'England' suit on and had a bit of fun!" he jokes.

Paul's first experience of being mistaken for the Swede came in the wake of Sven's appointment as England manager in 2001.

"My best friends watched his appointment on the news, then said to me, 'We've just seen you on the telly'," he recalls.

"The focus on Sven built up and more and more people seemed to comment on the resemblance."

When he went on holiday to Tenerife, a crowd of football fans started shouting Sven's name when he walked past.

Paul signed up with a couple of look-alike agencies but says he's always treated the work as a hobby rather than a job.

"I've not done anything for a year or two, what with Sven being out of the country," he said.

"But it's wonderful that he's ended up coming to my local city.

"I'd love to pick up the work again. Whatever I get offered, I'll do. It's not that I'm looking for the money but it's good fun!"

Paul has already been offered one interview with local TV news.

Whether he gets more will depend, he says, on whether his resemblance to Sven has survived the years.

"Our hair's receded on the top. It looks like he's had a bit of a vicious hair cut recently which I'm not sure I fancy!" he laughs.

That said, he was approached by a Sven fan for a photograph only last week.

Paul, a retired electrician IT project manager, can even boast of a past football career, albeit at a slightly lower level than jet-setting Sven.

In his youth, he played full back for Lincoln United.

Divorced with three grown-up sons – who also tease their dad about his resemblance to the Swede – he lives in Ravenshead where he has helped found a local care network.

"I'd like to settle down with somebody – Sven's success with the ladies doesn't seem to have rubbed off!" he jokes. "Maybe I can have one of his cast-offs!"

Paul admires Sven's track record and, despite his Forest allegiance, hopes he can achieve great things with Notts County.

"I'm really pleased. The whole city seems to be really buoyant," he says.

"There's terrific anticipation. County are bound to attract a far better standard of player. It's an exciting time."

Now he's wondering if his famous double could end up as his neighbour.

"There are rumours about him coming to live in the city," he laughs.

"Ravenshead's a nice place – he might end up next door!"