Sven-Goran Eriksson's fate will be decided in his absence today as the Football Association's board finally rule on the unseemly scandal which has bedevilled the governing body over the past few weeks.

Eriksson initially looked to be in danger of losing his job after controversy erupted when the FA issued a statement denying an affair between him and secretary Faria Alam, only to be forced into an embarrassing U-turn a few days later.

However, the tide since appears to have turned in the Swede's favour, especially after it was alleged that Colin Gibson, the FA's PR chief had offered to reveal details of the affair to keep chief executive Mark Palios out of the story.

Palios, who had an affair with the same woman, resigned when that twist became public knowledge and reports have also indicated that chairman Geoff Thompson has been considering his own position over recent days.

It was just six years ago that the FA were last left rudderless, with chairman Keith Wiseman and chief executive Graham Kelly forced out in the 'cash for votes' scandal involving the Welsh FA and a seat on FIFA's executive.

This time around, it remains to be seen whether Thompson or David Davies, the FA's executive director, who made the call to Eriksson to ask about the affair allegations, will survive today's meeting.

However, immediate sackings are not expected, with the FA determined to follow legal protocol demanding that disciplinary action would first have to be brought against any individual suspected of wrongdoing.

Board members will also be reminded that their discussions must centre only around the circumstances of the two statements and nothing else, least of all Eriksson's record as England coach.

For unless the FA have the cast-iron evidence of lying to bring disciplinary action against the Swede, there now seems little chance of ousting him without a pay-off of up to £10m for wrongful dismissal.

Eriksson will therefore hope to be cleared of any blame today, having argued that he never categorically addressed the issue of his affair when he spoke to Davies on July 19.

Unless the FA's executive director contradicts the idea of a genuine misunderstanding, the Swede will presumably be left in the clear to continue in his post, with a further four years left on his lucrative contract.

One of his close friends said: ''Sven just wants to get back to doing his job - leading England - and he is thinking of nothing else than that.''

Eriksson will nevertheless have to wait to hear the outcome of the meeting, with none of those interviewed by solicitor Peter Norbury, of the FA's specialist legal advisors Eversheds, invited to attend.

Norbury will instead present the evidence accumulated from those interviews at the board meeting, the location of which is a closely-guarded secret.

Chairman Thompson, the 12 board members - six from the professional side of the game and six from the amateur echelons - and various solicitors will await notification this morning of the details of the secret central London venue.

The FA said last night on their website: ''The FA board will meet tomorrow afternoon in central London to consider the report of the inquiry into why, on July 19, the FA allowed solicitors' letters to be issued and made statements based on misleading information.

''At the meeting, a report prepared by Eversheds LLP, the FA's specialist legal advisors, will be considered.

''To ensure that the process is demonstrated to be fair and accountable to all involved, the board has appointed external law firm Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP to advise on matters arising from the report.

''Understandably, this is an issue which has generated huge public interest and much speculation.

''It is the board's role to concentrate on the facts and ensure all of the correct processes and procedures are followed. This is clearly a detailed issue.

''All decisions must follow standard procedures and employment law. Those employees involved in this matter have given evidence to Eversheds LLP and will not be attending the board meeting.

''The board may determine it appropriate to seek more evidence or refer the matter for further consideration. It is imperative at this time that rigorous processes are followed.''

Davies, meanwhile, insisted he had not been downgraded from 'acting chief executive', a position he was described as holding since Palios' departure by the FA's website.

''My job is executive director. I work with Sir Trevor Brooking and others in the leadership team and with the board of directors we have here and I'm delighted to go on doing so,'' he said. ''Everyone is rallying round and we are going to come through this very soon.''

Whether that is yet possible rests on the outcome of today's meeting, with the fates of the England coach, as well as the FA's chairman and executive director, still to be decided