Owner Thaksin's axe poised to fall on under-performing Manchester City manager Sven

Thaksin revealed in an interview in Dubai today that he is unhappy with the performance of Eriksson's team since the turn of the year and will make a decision on the former England coach's future in a month's time.

Sportsmail revealed on April 1 that Thaksin was beginning to have doubts about the man he appointed after buying the club last summer and that the final few games of the season would be crucial to Eriksson's survival chances.

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City slickers: manager Sven Goran Eriksson (left) and club owner Thaksin Shinawatra

How Sportsmail revealed Thaksin's early doubts on April 1

And today Thaksin said: "I'm not happy with the performance of the club in the second half of the season.

"We will look at it at the end of the season and assess the club and the people involved. We'll probably have to sell some players and buy some new ones.

"We need some defenders, midfielders... midfielders are the key. We have some good players but we need more."

Chairman and manager have enjoyed a healthy personal relationship since Thaksin bought City for £80m and then appointed the 60-year-old last summer.

But City's poor form since the turn of the year has worried the 58-year-old, who is keen to see his club become a force in the Premier League and in Europe as quickly as possible.

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Despite recording a historic league double over Manchester United this season, City have won just four of their last 17 Premier League games.

It is understood that Thaksin has been disturbed by City's decline and is also concerned about what he sees as poor entertainment from Eriksson's team, his coach's 'inconsistent' team selection and an inability to sell out the 49,000-capacity City of Manchester Stadium on a regular basis.

The Swede is the club's most popular manager for years - both inside and outside the club - and most football judges recognise that he will need three of four years to turn City in to the force at home and in Europe that Thaksin wants them to be.

Eriksson recently acknowledged this himself when he said: "This is a long-term project, longer than two or three years. But that's fine."

Senior figures inside City feel that they have the right man in Eriksson and that the foundations for progress are now in place. They also feel that an average home gate of around the 40,000 mark more than stands up in comparison to others outside the English top four.

But what could count against Eriksson in the longer term - and indeed anyone who works under Thaksin - is the owner's impatience for a quick return on his investment.

The impetus behind Thaksin's initial purchase of City has always been his desire to raise his popularity and profile back in Thailand, where he was deposed as Prime Minister in September 2006.

Thaksin has recently returned to Asia to fight corruption charges levelled against him and now feels that the tide of popularity has turned back in his favour.

But Thaksin sees the success of his football club as being crucial to his long-term standing at home and therefore feels that progress must come quickly.

Having seen Eriksson's team set such high standards early on during a run of form that saw them in the top five for many weeks, Thaksin can not now understand how his team have fallen away.

Executives at City will back Eriksson and will counsel Thaksin in the manager's favour if asked.