SVEN-GORAN Eriksson's England future has been on the front and back pages of national newspapers this week and it is to be hoped his new contract will resolve all the uncertainty.

The media interest regarding Chelsea perhaps brought things to a head sooner than everybody anticipated and, even though you do not know the full picture, I am sure he has either been put under pressure or decided to put an end to all the rumours. Having said that, no sooner had he signed then the rumour mill started again with talk about get-out clauses and whatever.

Personally, I think that if you are looking to perhaps move on, progress or better yourself it's preferable to be honest and open. If I did not think I wanted to stay at York for the next three years I would not have signed my new contract and I hope that's the case with Sven's four-year deal.

We don't know what's gone on and never will because they were private meetings but I think perhaps he was a little nave, especially with the speculation about Claudio Ranieri's job, about the implications of his talks with Chelsea officials because if you are seen rumours are bound to start.

Being pictured as he was might be a bizarre situation but it's par for the course. You get thrown into the spotlight more as a manager.

With the Premiership it's '24-7' and, as England manager, Sven has to realise that even if he goes to a restaurant people will actually be interested in what he has ordered.

At least, a four-year contract for Sven, like the three-year contract I have been given, means he can plan for the future. For him, he's got Euro 2004 where he will want success and then he can plan for the next World Cup and, it's no different for us.

First we need to make sure we get our safety ensured and once we get that there will be a test for myself next season because my expectation levels will rise and hopefully we will be on a level footing financially as well so we can attract a better standard of player to York City.

The biggest thing, for me, that came out of this week was the fact that England players are behind Sven. They have all come out publicly and stated that and, putting aside everything else, I think that's the biggest plus for any manager whatever a club's board, or in Sven's case, the FA thinks. If you still have the respect of the players, it's an easier job to manage.

I think he's done extremely well, only losing to Brazil in competition games. He has certainly taken England forward.

They are a better side since he took over and have even more potential. He still continues to bring in youngsters and seems to have one or two that make people raise their eyebrows.

The biggest one this time was the young Norwich goalkeeper Robert Green but Sven's got a good scouting network and he's somebody who has done well all season and, barring a disaster at Carrow Road, will be playing in the Premiership next season. Sven can start having a look at him now and, although, he probably won't make the 22-man squad for Portugal he's there or thereabouts and it gives him a carrot to push for future squads.

It gives Green the opportunity to come into that environment and it's similar to when we promote kids here. You need to know if they can handle it when their opportunity comes and take it to the next level. Most of our kids are ready but the biggest problem is we have had to play too many of them in the same side.

Meanwhile, as Sven signed his four-year contract, the number of managers who have lost their jobs in Division Three since the start of the season had risen to 16.

It's a worrying statistic and maybe a trigger-happy situation but, by the same token, you need to be seen to be going forward.

Sometimes the pressure is on in football but sometimes you do not know the full picture and maybe sometimes managers do deserve to go.

At other times, you see what circumstances people are fighting against and it seems hard but it's a results-based industry and that's always what will have to come first and foremost.

For me, the one that sticks out slightly as being unfair was Brian Flynn at Swansea because of what he did last season and he appeared to have a chairman who backed him and was fortunate enough to attract good players and give them decent contracts. His departure was a strange one because I thought he had done a decent job.

Updated: 09:52 Thursday, April 01, 2004