Sven-Goran Eriksson's business manager today issued a categorical denial of reports suggesting the England boss had signed a pre-contract agreement with Chelsea.
Newspaper reports claimed the Swede has already agreed to quit England to join Roman Abramovich's Russian revolution at Stamford Bridge.
The reports could not have come at a worse time for Eriksson and his employers at the Football Association, with the national team facing tomorrow's Euro 2004 qualifying decider in Turkey on the back of one of the most turbulent weeks of Eriksson's reign. But the coach's representative Athole Still insisted talks with the Blues or third parties acting on their behalf have never taken place.
Still told the Press Association: "I am Sven's exclusive manager and I have never, at any time, spoken to or negotiated with anybody either from Chelsea or representing Chelsea - so there is no pre-contract agreement."