Is the Eriksson saga over?

By Mandeep Sanghera

Eriksson signs England deal

It was all smiles from England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and Football Association boss Mark Palios before the two sat down to announce the Swede's contract extension on Sunday.

In a move accelerated by the huge speculation over Eriksson's future, the new deal was supposed to be viewed as an act of commitment.

Palios certainly gave the impression of being in relaxed mood, joking when a mobile phone went off during the hastily-convened news conference that it was too late to start enquiring about Eriksson's services.

Eriksson was firm in his rejection of a possible move to Stamford Bridge after Euro 2004 - and his assuring words will have gone some way to easing the minds of worried England fans.

Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri might also be breathing a sigh of relief, but the uncertainty over his job is likely to remain.

If you have ambition in life, you listen to other opportunities to see if it is possible or not - I think you should have the right to do that - even if you're the England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson

Eriksson's admission that Roman Abramovich's revolution has instigated moves to replace Ranieri is only going to confirm what the Italian already feared.

On the England front, Eriksson's new deal will have lifted immediate doubts over his dedication to the cause, allowing the camp to focus on the upcoming European Championships in Portugal.

But despite the reassuring words of Eriksson and Palios, there still seems a nagging doubt about the longer term.

The usually poker-faced Swede was forced to play a hand he did not want by revealing that he had listened - and would continue to listen - to other offers of work.

Eriksson has made little secret of his desire to return to club management - and the offers will surely keep on rolling in.

A move to Europe may be the more likely than a switch to the Premiership, although a switch to an English club is not out of the question.

Eriksson was linked to Manchester United when Sir Alex Ferguson was set to retire - and events at Old Trafford may see the job open up in the near future.

The manner in which Palios refused to confirm or deny whether the new contract contained potential get-out clauses did not help matters.

Eriksson intervened to help Palios out, but the seeds of doubt that were planted when the Swede was photographed going into Abramovich's house were growing rapidly by the second.

Recent pictures of Eriksson emerging from the flat of Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon have only heightened fears.

And while the speculation has been cooled for the time being, it will not be long before the flames over Eriksson's future are fanned again.