Post by Taxigirl on Feb 17, 2004 10:22:59 GMT
England captain David Beckham believes the Football Association "caused a lot of problems" by offering coach Sven-Goran Eriksson a new contract.
Eriksson, linked with a move back into club management, has been offered a two-year extension to his current deal.
But Beckham said: "It's caused a lot of problems, with questions being put to him in every press conference and from every person he meets."
Swede Eriksson has said he is in no rush to sign a new deal.
Beckham met FA officials on Monday to try to heal the rift with England's players.
The FA's decision to exclude Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith from recent squads created a split with the England camp.
"We've all got to be on the same side and can't have these situations," said the England captain.
"The last thing the nation wants to see are these type of stories on the front and backpages."
Beckham met with FA chief executive Mark Palios, executive director David Davies and director of football development Trevor Brooking.
It is hoped the informal talks will ensure there is no repeat of the problems that threatened the build-up Euro 2004 qualifier with Turkey.
England eventually qualified for this summer's finals via that match in Istanbul - and they continue their build-up with a friendly against hosts Portugal on Wednesday.
Beckham added: "We're a few months on and a few changes have been made. Hopefully we are on the right road now."
Friction between the players and management first occured before the Turkey clash last year, when Ferdinand was suspended from international duty after missing a drugs test but before he was actually charged by the FA.
Leeds star Smith, who arrived as a late call-up for the Denmark game in November, was sent home again when it transpired that he had been arrested earlier that day.
The case against the striker was subsequently dropped.