BACK PAGE: 2004

SVEN

GORAN ERIKSSON laughed off the FA misconduct inquiry after being given the all-clear to lead England into the 2006 World Cup.

The Swede was ‘‘very pleased and relieved’’ at the verdict of the FA board which decided he had ‘‘no case to answer’’ over his conduct during the Faria Alam affair.

Eriksson was completely exonerated at the emergency board meeting and kept his £4million-ayear job after being cleared of lying over the statement that was put out denying his affair with FA secretary Alam. But she resigned.

Billy Boston (86) – former Wigan and Great Britain