Sven's tough Grip

It also emerged today that, should Eriksson now leave the England job before his new contract expires in 2008, his employers would leave themselves wide open to a huge compensation claim of more than £5million a year for every year left on the deal. That means if he were to leave, as expected, after the 2006 World Cup, any club taking him would have to pay at least £10m for the two years remaining on his contract with the FA.

His new £4m a year deal signed yesterday until 2008 has get out clauses on both sides, but the FA would still demand the compensation fee from any club if Eriksson made the decision to leave.

Also included into any exit fee is the effect the departure on the FA's sponsorship and television contracts worth at least £400m to the FA over a four year period.

Although a united front was presented yesterday by FA chief executive Mark Palios and Eriksson, there is speculation today that the FA threatened Eriksson with the sack if he didn't sign a new deal. What is clear though is that he has had approaches, and spoken to other clubs as well as Chelsea.

The pressure began to build on Eriksson last October, during England's preparations for the Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey. It was then, in the midst of the furore over the Rio Ferdinand's drug test affair, that Internazionale contacted Eriksson's representatives.

By December, Palios, acutely aware of the popularity of the England coach, offered him a new contract and that reached the public domain soon afterwards, much to the disappointment of Eriksson.

In recent weeks, and following increasing speculation about Claudio Ranieri's future at Stamford Bridge, Eriksson was again linked with the Chelsea job and was also said to be top of Real Madrid's list for next season. That increased the pressure on his private life. He began to be followed by photographers, something with which Eriksson finds it difficult to cope with.

The pressure reached boiling point on Friday, when the Sun contacted the FA informing them that they intended printing a photograph of Eriksson meeting Kenyon at his London apartment. That was the first time the FA knew their coach had met Kenyon. In fact, it was their second meeting in 10 days.

Eriksson could not be contacted until Saturday morning and talks then ensued between Eriksson, his representative Athole Still, Palios and other FA officials. It was logistically impossible, for them to meet in the same room, so some of the conversations took place by conference call.

The talks were said to be cordial but Palios made Eriksson aware that it was now a matter of urgency that he confirm his allegiance to his employers and sign the two-year contract extension. After talks with Grip, Eriksson attended a Premiership match at Charlton and then travelled to the house of David Dein, the FA's vice-chairman, for more talks with Still and Palios. It was there that Eriksson finally agreed the FA deal.