Eriksson 'top man for the job'

BBC Sport's Mark Lawrenson supports the FA's move

BBC Sport's Mark Lawrenson says that Sven Goran Eriksson's premature arrival is good news for England .

Sven Goran Eriksson is a highly successful club coach and I believe the Football Association will have one of the best men in the world to take charge of England.

He has won the highest football honours in Sweden, Portugal and Italy.

He is a pro football man.

His resignation from Lazio has come at a good time and I expect the Swede to take charge of England for the friendly against Spain in February.

It was obvious that he was suffering from some problems at Lazio which is not surprising because he knew that the task of trying to guide England to the 2002 World Cup finals was always at the back of his mind.

But I don't think the recent run of poor results with the Serie A club will worry him.

Eriksson will now have the time to mould the team he wants for the qualifiers in March.

Patience needed

I think the appointment late last year came at the right time.

England were poor during Euro 2000 and need someone who is going to implement a good football system.

Peter Taylor is a good caretaker coach and showed great promise while in charge of the friendly against Italy before Christmas.

The England fans have got to give Eriksson time.

England can take a leaf out of Scotland's book in this instance, where they have kept Craig Brown on for nine years and his steady influence has greatly improved the team.

Mixed reaction

I think by employing him on a planned five-year contract would be a good move by the FA.

They want him to build up a strong team for someone, possibly the English young coaches they keep talking about, to take over.

I think the England players were excited at the news of his appointment, both experienced internationals and the young players coming through.

The public reaction will be mixed because it is England's first foreign coach.

But everybody wants the team to be successful and to get the right results.

I think all the players in the Premiership, both English and foreign, will be boosted by the news, because Eriksson is one of the top football coaches in the world - and now England have got him.