Eriksson's future as coach looks assured for World Cup

The futures of the England and Wales coaches received assurances yesterday, after the fixture schedule for the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign was decided in a meeting in Cardiff yesterday.

Sven Goran Eriksson's right-hand man, Tord Grip, was adamant that the Swedish duo will be staying in charge of the England team for the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign. Meanwhile, Mark Hughes, the Wales coach, distanced himself from the forthcoming vacancy at Southampton.

Grip said: "We are planning for the Euro 2004 finals and we are also planning for the World Cup. There's been a lot of speculation all the time but Sven is still here and intends to stay here."

Rumours have been rife that Eriksson will leave his England post after the Euro 2004 finals, supposedly to take charge at Chelsea. But in another positive sign for his England future, Eriksson added: "Obviously our supporters will be excited about the games against Wales and Northern Ireland.

"I know it's a long time since England has played against both countries and I'm really looking forward to what I'm sure will be great nights of passionate football."

Grip, meanwhile, confirmed that while Eriksson had been offered a contract extension until 2008, he had not yet been approached, although he would "be happy to stay on if Sven wants me".

Hughes got the games he desperately wanted from the World Cup fixtures shakedown - and then insisted he will be around to see the job through.

Speculation surrounding Hughes' future as coach began as soon as Wales lost out to Russia in a Euro 2004 qualifying play-off last November and stepped up a gear with the news that Gordon Strachan would not be staying at Southampton beyond the end of the season.

But as he looked forward to the World Cup qualifiers which start next September, Hughes insisted: "The plan is that I will be in charge for the first - and the last - of the group matches. Frankly I am not looking that far forward, and other things could impact on that."

Hughes distanced himself with talk of leaving the Wales job, saying: "Everyone's attention has been refocused on what is ahead and there are some great games to look forward to."

Eriksson kept in touch by telephone from his office yesterday and admitted to be satisfied with the draw. He said: "For us the fixtures are very good. Starting with two away games against Austria and Poland will be difficult, but that is the way I wished to start the group. In fact, I expressed this view to Tord Grip and [the FA executive director] David Davies on the telephone during the course of the meeting. My main concern was to avoid a fixture in June next year, so I am very pleased with the outcome from that point of view in particular." Also of note is the fact that England do not have to leave the British Isles after October, when they travel to Azerbaijan. Poland could, however, still prove tricky final opponents - as the 1973 England side would be able to attest after a Jan Tomaszewski-inspired draw which ensured their elimination from the 1974 World Cup finals.

The Irish Football Association are adamant there will be no security problems when England travel to Belfast for a World Cup 2006 qualifier.

The IFA president, Jim Boyce, said: "Thankfully the very difficult years in Northern Ireland are past us. The British championship was played in Belfast right up until 1984 and England were always able to play there. There was never a problem in the past when things were far worse, so why should there be a problem now?"

2006 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING GROUP: SIX FIXTURES

2004

SATURDAY 4 SEPTEMBER
Northern Ireland v Poland
Azerbaijan v Wales
Austria v England

WEDNESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER
Poland v England
Austria v Azerbaijan
Wales v Northern Ireland

SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER
> England v Wales
Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland
Austria v Poland.

WEDNESDAY 13 OCTOBER
Wales v Poland
Northern Ireland v Austria
Azerbaijan v England

2005

SATURDAY 26 MARCH
England v Northern Ireland
Poland v Azerbaijan
Wales v Austria

WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH
Poland v Northern Ireland
Austria v Wales
England v Azerbaijan

SATURDAY 4 JUNE
Azerbaijan v Poland

SATURDAY 3 SEPTEMBER
Wales v England
Poland v Austria
Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan

WEDNESDAY 7 SEPTEMBER
Northern Ireland v England
Poland v Wales
Azerbaijan v Austria

SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER
Northern Ireland v Wales
England v Austria

WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER
Austria v Northern Ireland
England v Poland
Wales v Azerbaijan