Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson admits he put pen to paper on a Blackburn Rovers contract after talks with Sir Jack Walker in 1996.

A press conference was about to start when it was announced that Lazio had jumped in at the last minute for the Swede.

The ex-England boss said: "I had signed a contract but phoned Jack Walker and asked him if I could change my mind.

"He understood, tore up the contract and said we would be friends forever."

Roy Hodgson was given the Rovers job and Eriksson went on to win the Italian double with Lazio.