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Eriksson set to lead City on tour

By Simon Austin

Sven-Goran Eriksson is still planning to lead Manchester City on their tour of Thailand and Hong Kong this week, his assistant Tord Grip told BBC Sport.

Owner Thaksin Shinawatra has already indicated to Eriksson that he will not be in charge of the club next season.

And after City's 8-1 defeat by Middlesbrough on Sunday, Eriksson said he wanted his future resolved quickly.

But Grip told BBC Sport: "Sven has not heard any more. He will go to Thailand on Tuesday and meet Dr Thaksin there."

Eriksson will take City's first-team squad and some members of the FA Youth Cup winning side to Asia on a 10-day post-season tour.

They will arrive in Thailand on Wednesday and their first match will be against a Thai League All-Star XI on Saturday 17 May

I hope for everyone at the club that we can resolve this within hours or days
Sven-Goran Eriksson

The squad will then head to Hong Kong to take on a South China Invitational XI on 22 May.

Sunday's 8-1 defeat was City's third straight reverse and left them with a ninth-place finish, although the club could still qualify for the Uefa Cup via the fair-play league.

After the game, Eriksson told BBC Sport: "I hope for everyone at the club, and for me, that we can resolve this within hours or days - to live in uncertainty for so long is bad for everyone."

606: DEBATE

City fans have been vocal in their backing of Eriksson since it emerged his future was in doubt.

And the Swede feels a decision has to be made soon.

"If you think about the future and players coming in, we have been standing still for many weeks which of course is not good," he explained.

Eriksson held talks with Benfica president Luis Felipe Vieira and their new director of football, Rui Costa, in Manchester last Wednesday.