Sporting retain Sven stance

Despite claims from Sven Goran Eriksson's agent Athole Still that the Swede was not interested in taking over at Sporting Lisbon and a return to the premier league - most likely with Pompey, although Sunderland were 'said' to be showing an interest too - is what he wants, their 'presidential candidate' Paulo Pereira Cristovao remains insistent that the former England manager will be taking over at the Portuguese club 'if' he wins the presidency in the upcoming elections...

He claims in the Portuguese media that he has 'had a meeting with Eriksson and the subject is nearly finished' and Eriksson will be in place and 'it will not be a big expense for the club.'

I would not put it past the Swede to have held talks with Sporting in all honesty, but, and as past history can testify with his 'change of heart' with the Blackburn job some years back, until a contract is signed things do not always going according to plan with him! It was 'said', in the late 90s I think, that he had agreed a deal to take over but changed his mind to go to Lazio I think it was in the end?

If we miss out on Eriksson we miss out on him, we move on. I think that I would be pretty keen on him given his vast contacts and resources but I think I would also have 'little doubt' that if the opportunity to 'jump ship' came up he would not think twice about doing it...then again, that is modern day football for you I guess...

Claudio Ranieri is a name that is not really being mentioned in the media, but seems to be gathering momentum with many fans - and I could see the benefits to him as well.

The former Chelski manager is believed to be a man or honour and to be fair is a pretty decent manager, as his time at Stamford Bridge shows. Many feel he was unlucky to have been moved on when he was, as he played a major role in putting Chelski onto the path that they went on in the years to follow...

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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