Sven not sacked, says Thaksin

Chris Bailey

May 07, 2008

IN another bizarre twist to the latest City saga, Thaksin Shinawatra stressed last night that he has not sacked boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Instead he confirmed his most recent official statement that he would continue with plans for a thorough and wide reaching end of season review of the club.

“We have not discussed it (Sven’s future) yet. We will do an evaluation at the end of the season about what needs to be changed and what needs to be added for the success of the club,” declared Shinawatra before adding somewhat intriguingly.

“We will discuss it at the end of the season, we have no decision. Sven, Scolari and Mourinho are all great coaches.”

It has taken the Blues owner ten days to make a public utterance on the popular Eriksson’s possible future during which time speculation has been rife that the Swede will be axed at the end of the season amidst what insiders described as an irretrievable breakdown in his relationship with his employer.

Eriksson, who told his players that his meeting with the owner a week last Sunday ‘had not gone perfectly’ and that he couldn’t guarantee his future beyond the end of the season, has publicly maintained his own counsel on the matter saying the time to talk is after Sunday’s final game at Middlesbrough.

Now it seems he will get his wish. And just to make the plot even more intriguing the agent of Shinawatra’s preferred choice should the axe fall, Luiz Felipe Scolari, has gone on record to say that there had been no City approach to his client.

It is believed that the ferocity with which the fans have defended Eriksson has taken Shinawatra by surprise. The ‘Save our Sven’ campaign has united Blues followers worldwide and there will be a mass demonstration supporting the manager on Saturday afternoon at Eastlands. Already a 20,000-strong petition has been gathered.

Meanwhile, despite reports that meetings and conversations have taken place, Scolari’s spokesman was last night on the defensive. “Nobody has contacted Luiz Felipe Scolari,” said Acaz Fellegger. “The truth is that there has been no approach and Scolari has repeatedly stated that his future will only be decided after Euro 2008.”

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The Famous West Brom Inflatable Brawl (07/05/2008 at 19:52)

Great! Glad that's all sorted then. I'm so glad it's all been sorted out. I was worried Sven was toast but it's ok coz he's not bin sacked..............yet.
Wouldn't have anything to do with there being a mass demo due in 3 days time would it. Must stop being cynical. Must stop being cynical. Must stop being cynical....

dougie75, North Manchester (07/05/2008 at 19:54)

Svens sacked...Svens not sacked!

I cant be bothered anymore.

All I want, and I reckon all that everyone else wants is some concrete inormation.

maddogblue, Cheadle (07/05/2008 at 20:02)

Bloody hell, it just goes on and on. Right, will all parties, particularly the press, please drop this until after the Middlesborough game, as it now seems that Sven and Thaksin seem to agree that this will all be sorted after that game, and not before, if infact there is anything to sort??
As per usual, it looks like the gutter press, particularly those who whistle to MUFC'S tune, are the real villains of the piece in all this, they started it, and also kept it going, as part of a petty vendetta of "afters" with Sven because of the England job, and the sinister plot against MCFC to strangle at birth any signs of it rising to challenge the elite in this country in particular Manchester United which would never do would it ???

GuteRauk, Sweden (07/05/2008 at 20:07)

Well.... ? Let SGE finish what i came for and he will succeed.

bobby blue balls (07/05/2008 at 20:13)

frank just what are you playing at ?? svens out !! ohh no he's not he's in again... stop messing us all around make a desision and stick with it.. every blue is sick to the back teeth with it all ... in my view for what it worth he's got you in the top 10 give him another year ...(atleast)

steve (07/05/2008 at 20:15)

I think Frank is playing games with everyone to delay spending money in the summer.

Niall Quinn's Disco Pants, Ashton (07/05/2008 at 20:16)

Ah! Now the papers start printing the FACTS! Told you all it was SPIN from the press! End of season review planned, that is what is going to happen!!

Well, either that or Scolari has turned us down and the Dr is back-tracking!!

finnswede, northern europe (07/05/2008 at 20:16)

oh for chryssake... its all got a bit shambolic hasn't it. John Cleese would be proud. Doesn't the club deserve some stability; it has been a successful season. Disappointing finish, but if you asked any blue if they'd take a top ten, the double over the rags, and some new talent there isn't a supporter who would shake a stick at that.

BritBoyInFL, Florida (07/05/2008 at 20:31)

So, are we getting closer to the 'real' story ?

"Meeting between Sven & Dr. T did not go well" .... based on our performance for the last 5 months, what did anyone expect ?

Sven lets people (players) close to him know this and suddenly 'someone' speaks to the press (Off the Record) advising them that "Sven can not guarantee his position in the future" ..... Can any manager ? (Except SAF)

"No decision reached .... everything still to be reviewed" ..... as would any business owner when his company is failing !

'This' situation is a result of the media frenzy over Sven.

Trust ONLY announcements made at the MCFC web site, EVERYTHING else is pure speculation.

Print this MEN !

sven since 1979 (07/05/2008 at 20:34)

Frank! Save Big Sven!

Thanks Sven (07/05/2008 at 20:39)

Even if Thaksin is having second thoughts, would you want to carry on working for him if you were Sven?

bluebear, New Zealand (07/05/2008 at 20:41)

I like Sven and when he was first touted for the job I wanted to have him as coach. But as this all been story been spread by his aids to protect his job?? Knowing that it was not safe! Sven is a shrewed operator I have always thought that.

Wigan Blue, Wigan (07/05/2008 at 20:42)

Well - maybe we did some good after all, boys and girls. And maybe the Thai flag incident took its toll as well. Misguided Manchester City supporters? In the hospitality section? Come on!

OK then. A review is a definite requirement. What we did good, what we did bad. And it would be nice if Sven was big enough to take some advice - there's been enough coming from disgruntled posters on here!

The 4-5-1 issue at least needs to be looked at and justified to the satisfaction of an awful lot of supporters who've seen a lot of good things, and been prepared to suppress their anxieties for the sake of them. Even Sven's damned diamond was better than that!

Let's also hope that the players can get into the 'sort things out mode', and will be involved in the discussions. Nice as it must be for the Dunneymonster to get Player of the Year again, I bet he really wishes it had gone to a 30 goal striker for a change.

So let's all hope that there's an air of reconciliation around for a week or two. We can do this - we're Blues. We can bloody fly if we put our minds to it!

jimmy grumble (07/05/2008 at 20:48)

I have started playing the theme tune of the benny hill show whilst reading all of these stories surrounding sven, it works on so many levels!!!!!
Sven is Benny and thakskin is the little old side kick chappie and the girls include ulrica and nancy.
This whole episode has been handled in a typically incompetant city manner, its a joke, somethings will never change.
I hope Sven stays.

StretfordBLUE, Virginia (07/05/2008 at 20:59)

In politics, this is called "pandering". You receive a question from the media and you talk around the question. Where there is smoke, there is a little fire. Do we take Thaksin at his word? Has Thaksin being surprised by fans support for Sven, and he is rethinking his position? Whatever the situation, the club and fans don't need all this uncertainty and guessing game.

Give it to bloody Gordon (07/05/2008 at 21:05)

Whats the betting that Sven will stay and all of a sudden an increase in seasonticket sales! mmmmmm

Wet in Vienna 29/4/70, Stockport (07/05/2008 at 21:07)

Interesting! At last a statement of sorts from an 'offcial' source. Makes a change from 10 days of the press making stuff up. Maybe it was never going to happen, maybe Frank under estimated public opinion, maybe he's changed his mind, (he is a politcian for christ's sake)
IMO Sven is not the answer in the long term, but to sack him after 1 season is pointless. We just go back to square 1. The majority of the fans are behind him, the players are behind him, so come on Dr, T. lets all just get a sense of perspective. This time last year we were a few points off relegation, this year we are a few points off Europe.
I Remember Maine road 1989,
5-1 up against the filth. Tourists calling for Taggart's head, they stuck with him, and the rest is history. Ironic that the day the 'Sven is sacked' story broke, was the day filth beat Barca to qualify for the champions league final.
Think on Dr.

Thai High Rollers, Manchester (07/05/2008 at 21:08)

The Quote Sven, Scolari and Mourinhio are all Great coaches suggest to me there the 3 its between for next season. Mourinhio will have Countless offers from Top clubs and i see him taking over at Ac Milan or Barca. Which makes me wonder wether its Get Scolari or Stick with Sven. I think the mass Support shown for Sven has made him rethink his Actions and now feels less Obliged than he first did to sack Sven.

Personally i would like to see Sven stay but the way he has been treated would suggest very badly and it is questionable wether he would want to under this ownership which could screw us over. Hopefully everybody turns up on Saturday i for one will be dong with Friends and a Good turn out could persuade him To stick with Sven.

IN SVEN WE TRUST!

By the way I heard the Meeting Point on Saturday is at a Carpark does anybody know which one? For those who dont know the Time i believe its 2:30pm

bexar, manchester (07/05/2008 at 21:09)

As at 21.00 wednesday 2008, there are 17686 on the save Sven petition we need more, we can still change the Doctors mind.

Pie in the Sky, Manchester (07/05/2008 at 21:23)

I did try to say that there was more to all of this than at first meets the eye.
They both said that it would be review at the end of the season.
Now I'm not saying that this will happen but maybe Sven will move into a more advisory roll, like a Director of Football and Thaksin may bring in a new manager to work along side him. I don't really want that because I don't think it works.

Napoleon, Manchester (07/05/2008 at 21:26)

When I read the comment about the 'Save our Sven' campaign being in part responsible for the turnaround, I almost choked with laughter. Is there no low to which the press will stoop. One minute its Sven is going. The next hes might not be and its all down to us are we not just wonderful. Forget all the nonsense in-between which must have been made up in part if not in total. The one thing that this whole affair confirms without a doubt is the complete lack of any integrity in sports reporting.

Peter Doherty. As good as it gets. Levenshulme (Debt free). (07/05/2008 at 21:28)

Expect Scolari in then...

Peter Doherty. As good as it gets. Levenshulme (Debt free). (07/05/2008 at 21:33)

Apparently Frank has given an interview but not much of it on BBC, can Anglo-Saxon use his surfing skills to tell us exactly what he said?

david7mcfc, Manchester (07/05/2008 at 21:36)

Well, Well and another Well!

Has people power worked or have we been having this story inflated beyond comprehension by the "let's hope City have another disaster" press whores over the last couple of weeks?

stu the blue, radcliffe, manchester (07/05/2008 at 21:41)

ALTOGETHER NOW.......
WER NOT REALLY ERE!!!!

WE NEED THE CLUB TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

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