Eriksson unlikely to stay at Man City

By Sonia Oxley

LONDON (Reuters) - Sven-Goran Eriksson is unlikely still to be Manchester City manager next season, his agent said on Tuesday.

British media have speculated the former England coach would resign or be sacked after City's Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra said earlier this month he was unhappy with the Premier League club's recent form and wanted change.

Asked whether the Swede would still be at the helm at the beginning of next season, Eriksson's agent Athole Still told Sky Sports News: "It's looking odds against.

"If Dr Shinawatra was going to give a ringing message of support I think we would have heard it."

Eriksson, popular with fans after a respectable first season that has included doing a rare double over city rivals and league leaders Manchester United, said he had met Thaksin at the weekend but declined to give details about their discussions.

"The chairman and I spoke at the weekend but I do not wish to comment any further," he said in a statement on the club's Web site (www.mcfc.co.uk).

"The game with Liverpool on Sunday is most important and we are working very hard to prepare properly for the trip to Anfield and our final game of the season at Middlesbrough."

DEEPLY CONCERNED