The Sven-Goran Eriksson controversy rumbles on, with Wigan chairman Dave Whelan calling for his head, but there may be some relief for the under-fire England head coach after league managers pleaded for an end to the saga.

Whelan is renowned as Eriksson's most forthright critic, so his latest outburst is hardly unexpected, but Eriksson has escaped public criticism from the League Managers' Association (LMA).

Instead, LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson, Eriksson's predecessor as England manager in a caretaker role while Football Association technical director, has called for a united front to support the England team in the build-up to the World Cup.

Whelan, however, believes there should be no way back for Eriksson after he negotiated with an undercover reporter about a future job and revealed private conversations with senior players.

He said: ''I have criticised Eriksson in the past but there should be no way back from this.

''It is an absolute scandal, a disgrace. You simply do not expect the England manager to openly discuss his future plans and to air his views about what he thinks about players in his squad.

''He has broken one of the game's golden rules. It is gross misconduct and the man has to go.''

It is understood the LMA have expressed concerns to the FA in relation to Eriksson's suggestion to the undercover reporter, who was posing as an Arab sheikh, that he should buy Aston Villa and install him as the new manager. But, after talks with FA chief executive Brian Barwick, Wilkinson has now called for an end to the affair.

Wilkinson said: ''We have drawn a line under it. Our position on the matter is that the unfortunate incident is now finished and that of prime importance is England's success next summer.

''The LMA will be doing our best to support the England team and the FA in pursuit of success in the World Cup.''

Villa manager David O'Leary released an angry statement on Tuesday through the LMA, and the organisation confirmed it had been in talks with the FA.

A statement said: ''We discussed the situation. These observations will remain confidential but we can confirm that positive conversations have taken place with Howard Wilkinson, LMA chief executive John Barnwell and FA chief executive Brian Barwick."