Sven to spurn Sweden to stay at Notts
SVEN-Goran Eriksson will sensationally turn down the chance to manage his home country to stay at Notts County and fulfil the club's Premier League vision, the Evening Post understands.
The Swedish FA have put the Magpies' director of football high on their wish-list to succeed Lars Lagerback, after Sweden failed to qualify for next summer's World Cup.
Their president Lars-Ake Lagrell is a friend of the 61-year-old and it is understood he sees him as the perfect choice because of his popularity in Sweden and his reputation.
Eriksson has managed some of the most glamorous clubs in Europe in the top-flights in Italy, England and Sweden. And he memorably guided England to the quarter-finals of two World Cups, in 2002 and 2006.
The Swedish FA held a board meeting last Thursday and say they have sounded Eriksson out about the job.
But there has not been an official approach to Notts.
Jonas Nystedt, head of communications at the Swedish FA, said: "There is a special list of five to ten names and Sven-Goran Eriksson is on that list.
"What the Swedish FA did over the weekend was to contact a lot of these people, not just Sven-Goran Eriksson but a lot of people.
"We asked them what their situation was – like what it says in their contract with their club – and whether they were interested in the job.
"Sven-Goran Eriksson has been contacted but he is only one person on the list.
"Obviously, the rules stipulate that we would have to discuss with Notts County the situation regarding Sven-Goran Eriksson in more depth."
It looks like they will be wasting their time if they do make a formal approach for him.
It is less than three months since Eriksson was appointed the director of football at Meadow Lane on a five-year deal, on July 22 – and he is enjoying life in Nottingham.
His commitment to the club has often been questioned – and he was linked with the North Korea job last week.
But spurning the opportunity to manage Sweden might bring an end to all the speculation about his future.
The Evening Post understands there is a clause in Eriksson's contract if he is offered a top job at either club or international level – and he has a gentlemen's agreement with executive chairman Peter Trembling that Notts will not stand in his way of having informal talks with a club or a national FA.
But the pair have spoken about the Sweden job and Eriksson will not be leaving.
The Magpies are not surprised Eriksson is being linked to big jobs because he is one of the most respected coaches in world football.
But they have not received one formal approach for the Swede's services since he joined the club.
If he does ever leave Meadow Lane during his five-year contract they will receive multi-million pound compensation for him.
Eriksson is fully focused on finding a new Notts manager and he has short-listed five for the job, including those with lower league experience to more marquee names.
But it is unlikely the new manager will be named this week and Dave Kevan and Michael Johnson will remain in caretaker charge for Saturday's home game against Crewe.
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by Red Rob, in the glen
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 12:56PM
“Stuart, glad he's staying, but as someone said why would he and tord want pressure at their age, getting well paid in Notts for doing very little. see you in 3 yrs.”
by Stuart, Colwick
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 12:40PM
“Jeff, Nottingham - Superb Sven is staying END! Yes as a Notts fan all the media coverage seems to be getting very tiring, nice at first but now it seems all the papers want to have a say and most of it with a negative edge. Yes we have PR men but not all publicity is good publicity and brought on by Notts. In Sven we have one of the most high profile men in world football (That is a FACT) so we are always going to have him connected with major jobs. The press assume he cannot wait to jump ship and yes he may be on a fair bit of coin to do the job. However he has stuck by his word and turned down what some will describe as his dream job. I don't know whether Sven will see out the full 5 years, but thus far he has shown that he does not want to give up on Notts lightly.
I note the lack of posts from the lesser intelligent quarter of the Red brigade commenting on a positive Notts story, still when they have finished their humble pie they may add a comment.
As for shouthing scab, been to Chesterfield in the away end and a group of supporters all congregated in the Chesterfield section and shouted scab for 45 minutes. Loads were not watching the game, just trying to goad the Notts fans. Personal abuse for whatever reason against a player is wrong. Fans should be there to watch football and support the team, not drag up past errors of players or question their racial background. Those who do are idiots.”
by John Brindley, Loughborough
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 12:26PM
“Yes, Mandy you're right - I'm a Forest fan, too, and the worst abuse from Yorkshire clubs has always been at Rotherham. I had the misfortune to sit in their sectiom for one of our last game at Millmoor and it was awful, to be honest. Think it's a shame this is happening at the Don Valley Stadium which is used to hosting sports events where sportsmanship is actually still prevalent.
Oh and yes Barnsley are probably the next worst”
by mandy, southwell
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 12:19PM
“Just read on BBC sports website that Sven has ruled himself out of the running for the Swedish managers job .This has come from a spokesman for the Swedish FA”
by Red Fred, Sneinton
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 12:17PM
“I hope Sven stays at Notts, i really do.Since the news broke yesterday about the Swedish National teams search for a new Manager, it's taking IThankfully), all the pressure off the Famous Team who play in Red and White across the Trent, who are quietly , but confidently, climbing up the Championship into a play-off position and beyond.Keep it dragging on another couple of weeks Sven, and by the time we play Bristol City at home two days after Bonfire Night we'll be TOP.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lovin it.
U Redssssssssssssssssss”
by mandy, southwell
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 12:02PM
“john,loughborough
We get the scab tirade from all visiting fans from yorkshire teams at the City Ground...we,ll get some tonight against Barnsley.Its nothing new and quite funny really coz most of them who sing it probably werent even born when the strike was on.As for Lee Hughes and Pablo MIlls I think the difference is what they have a criminal record for but you are right there seems one rule for one and one for the other.Dave Jones the Cardiff manager is still taunted about alleged child abuse even though he was cleared of any wrong doing..which is even worse .Unfortunately there are idiot supporters from all clubs ,but they are in the minority”
by Kevin, Carlton
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 11:24AM
“Whether this is true or not, the media bandwaggon that Notts County themselves set in motion must now be having a destabalising effect on morale.
Gone is the whirlwind and glow that comes from good publicity - of Sven arriving, of Sol, of rumours of Roberto Carlos and David Beckham, of Championship football by 2012 to be replaced by less inspiring publicity of Sol leaving, Roberto not coming, of secret owners, of mix ups about ex Pakistani prime ministers, of McParland leaving of PR men coming and going over night.
If Sven stays well fair play to him - there might just be some honour left in football. Of course it could also mean that he's simply on more coin at the 'pies.”
by more coverage, than Katie Price
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 10:47AM
“Mandy its all about publicity at notts at the moment,they are after media coverage from all sides,Trembling is very clever in what he does.”
by John Brindley, Loughborough
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 10:42AM
“Very tricky one this - I know what you mean David about 'respect' for Sven if he stays, although I'd also lose respect for someome who turns down their own country. Perhaps issue is whether he wants to be a manager again or wants now to be on the sidelines, as he said when he came to Notts.
By way, anyone who went to Rotherham on Saturday, what did you make of the chanting aimed at Notts supporters - the usual stuff re the miners strike - and the more personal abuse aimed at Lee Hughes? I'm unsure why nothing is done about this whereas if Notts fans had chanted about Pablo Mills, who also has a criminal offence to his name, it wd have been all over the black pages”
by mandy, southwell
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 10:21AM
“Im beginning to feel alot of empathy for the county fans.All this media circus cannot be good for them or the players.If Sven is seriously not interested why not come out and say so ,all this will he ,wont he is ridiculous and no good for the moral at the club.There is one person only can put a stop to all this and that is Sven”