No decision on Eriksson for at least a week

Embattled Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson will have to wait at least another week before finding out if he still has a job.

City spokesman Paul Tyrrell said Thursday the club would be making no official comment other than confirming a review was being carried out into all aspects of the team's operation.

“The review will be ongoing and won't be a review which will finish at the end of our visit in Bangkok,” he told reporters here where Eriksson and the team are preparing for a friendly on Saturday.

“I would envision that the review would take another week at least,” he added.

Eriksson arrived in Thailand on Wednesday and is expected to meet with owner Thaksin Shinawatra on the heels of his side suffering a humiliating 8-1 defeat at Middlesbrough in their final game of the season.

Despite leading City to ninth in the Premier League, Eriksson has come pressure from Thaksin who has not been happy with results in the second half of the season.

Tyrrell said Eriksson has yet to meet with the former Thai prime minister, but would in due course.

“There is a meeting planned between the chairman and the manager,” he said.

“It will be an opportunity for him (Eriksson) to meet Dr. Thaksin here in Bangkok before we go to Hong Kong.”

Eriksson refused to answer questions.

He has been linked with a return to former club Benfica but the Portuguese giants said Thursday they have given up trying to lure him.

“Because the uncertainty over his professional situation is still ongoing we can't wait any longer. We will now start looking at other options,” said Benfica's new sporting director Rui Costa.

“We now consider this option closed.”

Eriksson had been a logical candidate as he coached the former Portuguese champions twice before, in 1982-1984 and 1989-1992.

He has also been approached to coach the Mexican national side, according to reports in England.

The Mexican FA has presented him with what is believed to be a deal worth around 4.4 million pounds (8.6 million dollars) to replace the outgoing Hugo Sanchez, the Daily Telegraph said.

“I was called from Mexico,” Eriksson was quoted as saying. “My agent is the person who analyses the contract terms.

“I can just say I was contacted. However, it's not the right time to make a decision.”