Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has assured fans that manager Sven Goran Eriksson has orders not to neglect the club's successful academy.

Shinawatra has told the manager to reward England international Micah Richards, emerging midfielder Michael Johnson and others with improved contracts.

"I have asked Sven that, after he has finished bringing in new players, he renegotiates the deals of our Academy graduates," confirmed Shinawatra to the Manchester Evening News. "We are determined to keep our young players; we do not want to lose them."