Eriksson agent dismisses Newcastle link
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s agent has dismissed claims the Swede has set his sights on Glenn Roeder's job at Newcastle as “malicious”.
Athole Still spoke to Eriksson this morning amid reports that he is targeting the job at St James’ Park, where a series of poor results in the Barclays Premiership has left Roeder’s injury-hit side in the bottom four.
Still insisted there has been no contact between the two parties and denied Eriksson, who was last week linked with West Ham, is looking to resurrect his career at St James’ Park.
He said: “It does not surprise me because he was linked with West Ham. Such is his stature that if there is a vacancy, he is going to be linked with a job.
“But I have spoken to Sven and he is not happy at the suggestion that he has ’targeted’ Newcastle, which gives quite a different slant to the thing.
“To suggest he is looking at a club where there is another professional coach in situ, it is absolute rubbish to say that. He would never do that.
“It is one thing to say that a club is interested in him – and in this case, there has been no contact whatsoever – but to say he has targeted the job of another coach is absolutely unacceptable and is malicious.”
Eriksson has been out of work since leaving his post as England coach after this summer’s World Cup Finals.
He has been linked with several jobs since, although Still has repeatedly spoken of his desire to take on a club with the potential to compete in the Champions League.
The right opportunity is yet to come along, but Eriksson’s agent is confident it is only a matter of time.
He said: “There have been lots of clubs interested, but somebody at his level has to wait for the right job. The right job will come, and I believe it will come sooner rather than later.”
