IT must be a case of the five-year itch. Just days after Sven Goran Eriksson celebrated the fifth anniversary of his reign as England manager, a leading Sunday newspaper published revelations outlining how keen he is to walk away from his post in the wake of this summer's World Cup.

In a meeting with an undercover reporter, posing as an Arab sheikh, Eriksson claimed he would be willing to manage Aston Villa next season if his co-conspirator was able to raise the £25m needed to oust current chairman Doug Ellis.

He went on to suggest he could personally persuade England skipper David Beckham to leave Real Madrid - a practice that would be illegal - and claimed Michael Owen was only at Newcastle because of his multi-million pound pay packet. Hardly the best way to kick off your sixth year at the helm.

Eriksson's reign as England boss has been beset by crises, most of which have been of his own making.

A sexual dalliance with former FA secretary Faria Alam reflected badly on his private life, a private meeting with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon raised grave concerns about his professional conduct.

Neither was enough to bring him down though and, while yesterday's expose provides further ammunition to those who question the Swede's suitability for the most high-profile managerial post in the land, his latest error of judgement is no more likely to be terminal.

Regardless of everything that has happened, Eriksson will be judged on how England perform at this summer's finals.

Forget sheikhs, sex scandals or even shocks in Northern Ireland - if England are crowned World Cup champions in July, Eriksson will be hailed as a hero.

If they are not, he will be hounded from his post as the man who watched England's golden generation slip through his hands.

In a sense, it has always been that way.

From the moment Eriksson took charge of his first international game on February 28, 2001, his fate was always likely to be inextricably linked to what happens in Germany this summer.

Kevin Keegan had made a disastrous start to the qualifying campaign for the 2002 World Cup finals and Eriksson's original brief did not even mention qualification for Japan and Korea.

That September's 5-1 win in Germany moved the goalposts but, even when England tamely surrendered to a ten-man Brazil in Shizuoka, the Swede was spared too much vitriol.

An opportunity had been squandered, but just how much better the likes of Beckham, Gerrard, Ferdinand and Owen would be four years down the line.

The same was said in the wake of 2004's European Championships failure.

Losing to Portugal on penalties was a massive disappointment, but the names of Lampard and Rooney were added to the ever-expanding list of players who were destined to fulfil their potential in a German World Cup.

Those players still carry Eriksson's legacy on their shoulders.

There have been subsequent setbacks since Portugal - last September's defeat in Belfast, a catastrophic 4-1 reverse in Denmark and an overall lack of tactical awareness uppermost on the list - but the public's reaction has always been tempered by an unwavering belief in what could be to come.

Yesterday's revelations do nothing to temper that optimism.

The strength of the bond between manager and captain continues to be a concern given Beckham's fluctuating form, and Eriksson's comments on Shaun Wright-Phillips - the manager implied he was not worth his £24m transfer fee - are hardly likely to inspire a youngster who could yet play a valuable role in Germany.

Ultimately, though, any doubts will be dispelled if England are successful this summer.

The entire football industry is driven by results - nowhere is that more apparent than the international game.

Eriksson's reputation is already tarnished to the extent that yesterday's headlines are unlikely to hurt him any more.

If England do not win the World Cup, he would have been departing with his tail between his legs anyway.