Post by Taxigirl on Feb 23, 2004 10:45:15 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/england/3489457.stm
Football Association chief executive Mark Palios denied there is any rift with England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and insisted he will sign a new deal.
Eriksson has been linked with a move to Chelsea and has voiced his unhappiness at some of the FA's recent decisions.
But Palios told the News of the World: "We get on fine, there is no rift.
"Sven is talking positively about the 2006 World Cup and trying to shape things even longer term. No-one has to smooth relations between us."
Eriksson openly criticised the FA for dropping Alan Smith from the England squad for the game against Denmark in November.
Smith was pulled out of the squad hours after a call-up when it emerged he had been arrested following a bottle-throwing incident, which he was later cleared of.
The FA has offered Eriksson a two-year extension to his current deal, which would take him to the 2008 European Championship.
The Swede has yet to put pen-to-paper and England skipper David Beckham has criticised the FA for the timing of the contract offer.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/england/3493863.stm
But Palios said: "Sven has given every indication of wanting to stay, we would like him long-term.
"The contract is a genuine offer, no pressure has been applied to get things done right this minute and the coach has never indicated he is anything other than flattered.
"We have been criticised for offering Sven a contract because he is getting asked about it.
"But who is doing the asking? The same people who are criticising."
Palios hopes the Premier League will back Eriksson's plan for a winter break next season.
He added: "It will be significant if Sven can see we are doing all we can to help him. He believes we lost to Brazil at the World Cup in 2002 when the players were tired.
"In that way I would like to make it hard for him to say 'no' to a new contract by giving him what he wants."