Sven Goran Eriksson kept his agent in the dark over talks with Manchester City last week, it has been revealed.

The Observer says Eriksson is so keen to repair his image and reputation in England that he agreed to keep his agent, Athole Still, out of negotiations with potential new owner Thaksin Shinawatra for the vacant manager's job at Manchester City.

"Mr Eriksson will probably take the job but he is not sure if it is too soon for him to return and work in England after managing the international team," an executive at Manchester City told the Observer last night. "We think he will take the job and inform us early this week," said the source who also confirmed that, "we have been dealing directly with Mr Eriksson."

"Sven had been told that a condition of the meeting was that no one other than the intermediary that contacted him and Shinawatra himself should know that the meeting was taking place," the City source added.