The Swede, written off as a manager after England's dismal World Cup quarter-final exit last summer, faces a backlash from some City fans who have criticised his arrival.

But, after a year out, he is determined to recapture the success in his club career. He won League and Cup doubles with Sweden's Gothenburg, Portugal's Benfica and Italy's Lazio.

Former England FA director David Davies, whom Eriksson remains close to, told The Express: 'Sven thinks he has something to prove, particularly to people who have been pretty cruel about him.

'The World Cup was a huge disappointment for the fans and players, but perhaps the person who took the longest to get over it is Sven.'

Eriksson will earn £2.5million (S$7.7million) a year at City. But he will only be unveiled when former Thai prime minister Thaksin completes the purchase of a 75 per cent shareholding needed to take City off the stock market.

He already has 65.9 per cent of the club after agreeing to a £81.6million takeover.

The latest foreigner to buy into the Premiership leaves British sports minister Richard Caborn worried that the Premier League is turning into 'a billionaire's playground'.

He has organised a meeting involving himself, Treasury, League and FA officials for talks on the increasing number top-flight clubs in foreign hands.

Caborn said: 'I think the commercialisation, indeed foreign investment, has actually helped the Premiership.

'It is the best, watched by 1.5 billion people around the world every weekend.

'But we have to make sure that the grassroots, the communities from which those clubs came, are respected.

'We will also look at the 'fit and proper person test' and see whether it is the right tool.'

He did not mention any clubs specifically, but the whole issue about ownership has been highlighted by the takeover of City.

The charges against him are a politically motivated move by the Thai military junta that deposed him, Thaksin claimed, adding that he will have no problems passing the 'fit and proper person test' used for potential club owners and directors of English clubs.

If and when his takeover is completed, it will mean that eight out of 20 Premier League clubs are in foreign hands.

Aston Villa, Chelsea, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester United, Portsmouth and West Ham are the others.

Arsenal and Blackburn are also attracting interest from overseas.

REUTERS