It was an embarrassing defeat in what could prove to be the penultimate match in Eriksson's season-long reign as a Premier League boss.

Speculation has engulfed the former England manager with club owner Thaksin Shinawatra conducting a review of the club which is set to be complete late next week at the earliest.

Eriksson has remained tight-lipped on his dealings with former Thai prime minister Thaksin - with the club declining to reveal if the duo had met for discussions in Bangkok - but yesterday he was happy to smile and describe their relationship as "good".

However, Thaksin's mood is likely to have been soured by the defeat to the All-Stars - a representative side who had been training together for just one week - after an elaborate effort to entice Thai fans to adopt his club.

Thaksin opened a club store in Bangkok on Friday and reiterated his desire to turn City into a global brand, but the 65,000-capacity Rajamangala Stadium was sparsely populated during the so-called 'Super Match'.

However, despite City's failure to win the exhibition match, the UEFA Cup berth could yet earn Eriksson a reprieve as manager, coming one year ahead of Thaksin's previously outlined schedule.

"The news about the UEFA Cup was extremely good news for the club," said Eriksson.

City could retain a number of first-team regulars previously linked with moves - like England international Micah Richards - and attract further talent with the lure of European football at Eastlands.

"For the club to attract new players it's easier when we're playing in Europe, obviously," added Eriksson.

However, the 60-year-old declined to reveal if the news had afforded him the opportunity to reassess his transfer options.

"There is a lot of time to talk about that," he added. "There is a lot of time until next year."

Eriksson is not the only City member of staff uncertain of their fate.

Defender Sun Jihai is out of contract in the summer but still harbours hopes of extending his stay with City.

The China international is arguably Asia's most successful footballing export, having made more than 150 appearances in five seasons at City, becoming one of the club's longest-serving players in the process.

"I'd love to play in England and I'd love to play football for Manchester City," he said. "But I've no idea to be honest."

The 30-year-old has received offers from clubs in the Premier League and the Coca-Cola Championship, but none strike him as particularly attractive and he is waiting for the conclusion of the play-offs and the season throughout Europe before deciding on his future.

"We're waiting," he added. "In the future I don't know, nobody knows."

Sun will feature for City against a South China Invitational XI in Hong Kong on Thursday before joining up with the China team for four World Cup qualifiers in June.

City travel to Hong Kong on Tuesday for the second leg of their tour after having a break at the Thai resort of Pattaya.