EXTRA TIME
WANCHAI RUJAWONGSANTI
While Manchester United were celebrating reaching the Champions League final this week, Manchester City still managed to make the headlines.
Reports say City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is going to sack coach Sven-Goran Eriksson at the end of the season after the Blues could only win seven of their last 26 games.
City's 3-2 embarrassing home defeat against relegation strugglers Fulham, who rallied from two goals down in front of Thaksin on Saturday, seemed to be the last straw.
Thaksin held talks with Eriksson the next morning and reportedly told the Swedish coach that he was not the right man for the job.
Thaksin is in hot water at City, although the former prime minister has not yet come out to confirm or deny the reports.
He is now unpopular among City supporters who have been venting their anger at the way Eriksson has been treated.
"In a nutshell, I'm absolutely disgusted. The way they are treating Sven is beyond belief and this can't be based on football reasons," one fan told the Manchester Evening News.
"Perhaps Shinawatra thinks he can buy instant success but that just doesn't happen," said another.
The fans have reason for their frustration as Eriksson has turned City from a relegation contender into a top 10 side in the Premier League.
For the first time in three decades, City beat Manchester United twice in the league this season.
A successful businessman and politician, Thaksin, who bought City for 85 million, always wants instant success in everything.
But bringing success to a football club of City's calibre is not as easy as making a bowl of instant noodles - it takes time.
It would be a big mistake if Thaksin sacks Eriksson who has been doing a great job by City's standards. The Swedish manager is popular among City supporters and receives the players' backing.
Indeed, that a coach of Eriksson's class accepted the City job is an achievement in itself although admittedly money is a key factor. He receives in the region of 2.5 million a year.
It is true that a number of Eriksson's signings have been less than impressive, but there are signs that City could improve under him.
Thaksin should stop thinking about bringing in a high-profile coach and should allow Eriksson to carry on for a couple of years before reviewing his work.
It is also doubtful which top coach would have the guts to take the City job and risk his reputation being damanged.
Top of Thaksin's wish list reportedly are Croatia coach Slaven Bilic, Portugal's Luiz Felipe Scolari and former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.
However, Bilic, whose side played a key role in knocking out England in the Euro 2008 qualifying round, has agreed to extend his Croatia contract for two more years until the 2010 World Cup.
Scolari turned down an offer to coach England for fear that his privacy would be violated by the English press.
There is no reason for the World Cup-winning coach to turn down a lucrative offer and then accept a smaller one to work in the country that could be harmful to his private life.
The Brazilian is smart enough not to become involved in the matter. Reports say he has distanced himself from the job.
Big-ego Mourinho, who is unemployed, is unlikely to coach a relatively small club like City. He is reportedly heading to Inter Milan. Only the likes of Man U, Arsenal and Liverpool could lure the former Chelsea coach back to England.
Another World Cup winner, Marcello Lippi, who is also unemployed, could be another choice and may accept the challenge at City in the twilight of his career.
But I don't think these coaches, or anyone else, could turn City into a major force overnight.
Thaksin still has time to think about Eriksson's future. Fans have lost faith in the Thai chairman and unless he makes the right decision he could be a public enemy at the City of Manchester Stadium rather than a hero.
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