Thaksin's Folly: Manchester City Set To Show Eriksson The Door?

Sources at three of the UK's biggest sporting news agencies have reported that, following a recent meeting between Sven-Goran Eriksson and Manchester City's owner Thaksin Shinawatra, the Citizens are set to axe their manager.

This season has seen a vast improvement at Man City, from last year's relegation-flirting four points from the drop zone to a club with genuine European ambitions. Some supporters earlier in the season were left watching in disbelief as their team challenged for the top spot.

This jump has been the work not only of Thaksin's chequebook, but the abilities of a manager with a proven track record at club (and, dare I say it, international) level. 

Sven has overseen a transformation of fortunes at Eastlands, taking over a club who had not scored at home since January 1st 2007 and turning them into a team who maintained a 100% home record from the start of the season until the 18th of December, an astonishing feat. They have also performed an almost unprecedented league double over their Manchester neighbours, winning 1-0 at home and 2-1 at Old Trafford, the first time this has been achieve since 1969/70.

Blending the new talent at his disposal and the existing core of the squad, he managed to coax one of the league's brightest new talents to England in Elano, as well as an extremely skillful and prolific winger in Martin Petrov. According to players and fans alike, Sven's first season can only be described as a great success.

Their form has dipped in recent weeks, but this loss of momentum is experienced by almost every club at some point in their league campaign. Their final standing still seems set to be much more comfortable than last year, with a healthy 23 points separating the blues from the drop. 

For the man who guided Lazio to only their second ever league title, winning a host of cups along the way, a champagne reception might have been expected in the boardroom rather than an unceremonious dismissal.

This act, more than anything, proves to the football fan just why certain businessmen with no knowledge of the national game should not be allowed anywhere near a football club. Thaksin Shinawatra risks alienating everyone associated with the club in one single move.

If Shinawatra does go ahead and fire the club's manager, he will not only be losing one of club management's current greats but the vast majority of Manchester City supporters.