Sven-Goran Eriksson's long-time assistant Tord Grip is confident the former England coach will receive plenty of job offers this summer.Although Eriksson has refused to say so himself and club officials have insisted there will be a full review when the season draws to a close, it is now virtually certain Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has decided to dispense with the Swede's services.

The news has been greeted with dismay by City's long-suffering fans, who felt their club was moving in the right direction despite a late-season slump.

And Grip's view Eriksson will not encounter much trouble finding alternative employment only fuels the belief he has done well in his first campaign at Eastlands.

"I am sure Sven will receive new offers," said Grip.

"We believe we have done well but they (the owners) probably think we have not done a good enough job, so we will be here for the last two matches."

In praising the City support, Eriksson knows he is playing to an audience that appreciates the work he has done under very difficult circumstances given the lateness of his appointment last summer.

It appears that same support is now fearful of the future, particularly if rumours Thaksin has not put in as much money as was previously believed prove to be correct.

"Many fans are dubious about the situation," said Dave Wallace, editor of the King of the Kippax fanzine.

"We know Sven will get a new job but the question is who will we end up with?

"There has been a lot of talk about Luiz Felipe Scolari but if the money situation is not right, we will not get him or anyone else of any repute. And if that happens, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that we could find ourselves in a relegation battle."

Like most City fans, Wallace cannot comprehend why Thaksin has reached such a dramatic conclusion about Eriksson's abilities after presiding over an extended challenge for a Champions League place as well as beating Manchester United twice.

"The whole thing is just ludicrous," he said.

"For once, we thought we were in for a period of stability. It seems like it is anything but.

"There have been a few grumbles at recent results but we can all see how far the team has progressed. It just seems the owner is either being badly advised or he is just not listening."

Defender Nedum Onuoha has become the latest City player to back Eriksson, and he admits the players are in the dark about their manager's future.

"From where I am, he has done a very good job this year," the England Under-21 star told Sky Sports News. "So for something like this to come out, it has really caught me off guard.

"He has got support everywhere. You could ask the people of Manchester and around England and they would probably support him as well.

"I don't really understand what is going on, but hopefully in the next few days we'll have a clearer picture.

"Hopefully he won't go. But you just don't really know in football. We will have to keep an eye on it and see what happens."

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