Shepherd rubbishes Sven link

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has dismissed suggestions he has placed former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson at the top of a list of potential successors to Glenn Roeder.

A report on Thursday claimed the Swede is being lined up for the hot-seat at St James' Park as another difficult season draws to a close.

However, Shepherd was swift to issue a terse denial, saying: "Is it April Fools day today? Any talk of Sven-Goran Eriksson - or anyone else for that matter - coming as manager to St James' Park is sheer and utter garbage."

Shepherd added: "I have not spoken to Sven since he left the England job and I have no intention of speaking to him.

"Neither have I spoken to his agent Athole Still nor Tord Grip, and as far as I am aware, they have not approached us.

"In any case if they did, it would not matter a jot because we already have a manager."

It is not the first time Eriksson, who left the England post after last summer's World Cup finals campaign, has been linked with Newcastle.

His assistant Tord Grip was at Monday's 0-0 Barclays Premiership draw with Arsenal, although he was on Tyneside as the guest of Gunners vice-chairman David Dein.

Newcastle currently lie 10th in the Premiership table after a season which has failed to live up to expectations amid a crippling injury crisis.

However, Roeder and Shepherd are already planning for the new campaign as they target the men they believe the club needs to move forward.