News: The crisis that has enveloped the English FA moved a step closer to resolution yesterday when Sven-Goran Eriksson met with the legal team conducting the inquiry into the issuing of an erroneous statement denying the England coach had an affair with an FA secretary, Faria Alam.
The lawyers met with Eriksson at a location away from Soho Square, where the British media maintained their siege of the FA's headquarters.
The Swede, who chose not to travel as planned to last night's Manchester United friendly, is understood to have restated his position, which is that when asked about the affair by David Davies, now the acting chief executive, he did not categorically deny it had taken place.
Regardless of what he meant when he replied, "This is nonsense," his response was taken by Davies to be a denial and became the basis of the FA's denial of the story.
Such is the ambiguity of the statement - not to mention its diminished importance since former FA chief executive Mark Palios was revealed as having attempted to make sure details of Eriksson's affair were widely known - that even the coach's enemies on the FA board are resigned to him remaining in his post after tomorrow's emergency board meeting.
One board member who was opposed to Eriksson continuing because of the vast pay rise awarded to him before Euro 2004 - that took his salary to around £4 million - said it was inevitable he would keep his job.
Palios's conduct is thought to have provided Eriksson with sufficient grounds to claim constructive dismissal, and there is concern that the coach would not hesitate to seek a huge pay-off, estimated at £10 million to £14 million, if he were removed.
Nor is there is any expectation he will try and cut a deal.
The FA chairman, Geoff Thompson, is also under pressure to resign, but despite anger at his decision to clear Palios before the inquiry had begun, the chairman is said not to have considered resignation.
At tomorrow's meeting the 12-man board will receive a copy of the investigation and then review what action to take, if any, against Eriksson. A motion to dismiss would have to be proposed and seconded, but appears increasingly unlikely. A vote of no confidence in Thompson could also be called.
Finding a new chief executive will officially be on the agenda on Thursday, but discussions about a replacement for Palios have already begun informally.
Trevor Birch - recently of Everton - has support on the board. Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the Premier League, has let it be known he is not interested.
Trevor Brooking is a candidate to take over from Davies temporarily, though yesterday the former West Ham player said finding an adequate replacement for Palios would be difficult.
"In a short time he made a big and worthwhile contribution and it won't be easy finding the right person to succeed him."
Meanwhile, Newcastle United - who are still trying to recruit a new right back - have made Charles N'Zogbia their fourth pre-season signing.
The 18-year-old is a French midfielder from Le Havre and the English club will now try to register him to play in the Premiership as soon as possible.
Aston Villa have moved closer to signing Mathieu Berson, after Nantes conceded defeat in their struggle to retain the midfielder.
Should the 24-year-old sign, he would become Villa's second recruit from the French league this summer, after the Czech defender Vaclav Drobny joined on a season-long loan from Strasbourg yesterday, having impressed during a trial stint.
Craig Moore's proposed move to Blackburn collapsed last night after the Rangers defender failed to agree terms with the club.
The Australian international, who will play for his country at the Olympic Games, had looked to be on his way to join his former team-mates Lorenzo Amoruso and Barry Ferguson at Ewood Park.
Crystal Palace have signed the Hungarian international striker Sandor Torghelle, subject to international clearance. The 22-year-old has joined from MTK Hungaria for a fee of around £350,000.
Liverpool have loaned their French midfielder Alou Diarra, who has yet to make a first-team appearance for the club, to Lens for a season with a view to making the move permanent. His compatriot Anthony le Tallec is expected to join St Etienne on a similar basis.
Portsmouth have tabled a club-record bid, thought to be more than £2 million, for West Ham's England midfielder Michael Carrick.
The club's chairman, Milan Mandaric, is also ready to pick up the cost for adding the Blackburn striker Dwight Yorke to a squad manager Harry Redknapp fears would, without new blood, be facing a relegation battle.
And newly promoted Primera Liga club Levante have claimed they have reached agreement with Manchester United to sign Uruguayan forward Diego Forlan. The deal would be a loan arrangement for one season, but first the Spanish outfit must reach a deal to the satisfaction of the Latin American.
Valencia-based Levante were promoted to the Primera Liga in May.
Guardian Service
