City boss Sven set for crunch talks as Thaksin is urged to be cautious

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Eriksson's position at City is under serious threat after Thaksin confirmed he will be reviewing the Swede's performance at the end of the season.

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Unclear future: City manager Eriksson could be out of a job this summer

And although sources close to the City manager have claimed he is 'relaxed' about the situation, he will speak with Thaksin when the former Thai Prime Minister makes a rare 2008 visit to the club this weekend.

With senior City staff and advisors such as the super-agent Pini Zahavi urging Thaksin to be cautious and to retain Eriksson for at least the remaining two years of his contract, it is not a certainty that the former England coach will be sacked.

But there are increasing fears at the club that Eriksson may walk away if he continues to be undermined and from that point of view this weekend's conversations could turn out to be pivotal.

With City in the top half of the Barclays Premier League and on course for a record points finish in the modern top flight, there remains some incredulity at the club that Thaksin has even brought his manager to this position.

But at least the pair will have one positive topic to talk about after the club's young players won the coveted FA Youth Cup by beating Chelsea on Thursday night.

City won 3-1 to further enhance the sparkling reputation of the club's youth academy.

Under the guidance of head of youth development Jim Cassell, the academy has produced in the region of 25 first-team players in the last 11 years and nine have played for Eriksson this season.

And youth team manager Alex Gibson revealed that Eriksson is firmly committed to the continued development of young players and had visited the dressing room on Wednesday to congratulate the club's stars of the future.

Gibson said: "The manager came in and said 'well done' to them and that was great.

"He is very committed to the youth policy here and has told us that. He regularly has some of our players over to train with the first team at the main training centre at Carrington.

"That sends out the right message and is certainly appreciated by us."