Manchester City’s final game of the season against Middlesboro has taken on a whole new dimension as City are on the verge of a UEFA Cup place.  The FA was awarded an extra place in next season’s competition as England finished top of the UEFA fair play league.  The nation winning the fair play league is entitled to award an additional UEFA Cup spot to the leaders of their own fair play table.

City are in 5^th place in the Premier League Fair Play table, behind teams that have all qualified for European competitions already.  Everton and Fulham are also in contention.  However, Everton, who are 3 points clear of Villa in 5^th place in the league proper, should qualify automatically unless they lose and Villa win.  Fulham are also in contention behind Everton in the Fair Play table, but fair play will surely be the last thing on their minds at Fratton Park. 

The news is a potential blessing for City owner Thaksin Shinawatra who finds himself backed into a corner over the mess he has created by putting manager Sven Goran Eriksson’s future into doubt.  The approach made for Luiz Felipe Scolari appears to have failed, at least until after the European Championships which will be too late to prepare for a Premiership season let alone one with European football. 

Sven was typically reserved in his Friday press conference this afternoon.  He initially refused to answer any questions regarding his future.  He didn’t deny or confirm the Benfica offer, but it doesn’t look as if Sven is taking this approach too seriously. Sven did however give us a timely reminder, “Football is great and life is great.”

What impact does the potential for UEFA Cup football next season have on Thaksin’s decision?  Well if Thaksin has any sense left it will prompt him to enter into a “clear-the-air” discussion with Sven and his managerial team.  A discussion that should include an apology for the way Sven has been treated, a commitment for investment in new players, and a return to "the project" that all concerned signed up to at the beginning of the season.  MCFCfans feels that Thaksin’s comments in recent days show that his position is weak and a climb-down is possible.  Sure we might be dreaming but  nothing is cut and dry in this saga (Eriksson In?, King of the Kippax).  How frustrating though, that our club’s future could rest on a wealthy man’s ego.

Whatever happens, the potential for UEFA Cup football may give City an unlikely insurance policy that helps to retain and attract players if the managerial farce that is expected comes to pass.

MCFCfans supports a peaceful but vocal pro-Sven protest on Saturday when a petition that currently has over 18,000 signatures will be handed to the club.  The Support Sven Rally will be held at 2.30pm at the City of Manchester Stadium. 

This weekend is the last chance for all concerned to give our end-of-season panto a happy ending: for the fans to protest on Saturday; for Sven and the players to play fair and win on Sunday; and for Thaksin to back down.

Last chance Thaksin, the game’s up, leave our Sven alone.