Eriksson follows Beckham around like little lamb

Former England scout Ted Buxton has slammed Sven Goran Eriksson, claiming the national team is effectively run by captain David Beckham.

Buxton told the News of the World: "I thought the Swedes had Viking blood inside them but Sven is so soft in his nature I wouldn't want him in the trenches with me.

"I've seen for myself just how big Beckham is in the England camp and I didn't like it. Last year, on the day the England players were threatening to go on strike over Rio Ferdinand's drugs ban, all the coaches and scouts were having a meeting with Sven.

"Ray Clemence, Sammy Lee, Dave Sexton, Tord Grip and Sven were sitting around the table. The atmosphere was very dodgy - a little tense because of what was going on.

"But Beckham just walked in, pointed his finger at Sven and beckoned him out of the room and Eriksson did just that.

"It was very humiliating - but like a little lamb Sven walked out. Five minutes later he came back and I think it was Ray who asked him what was happening. Sven said: 'They have a meeting at six o'clock'.

"And when Ray asked whether we were going to be involved Sven replied: 'No, no, no - only them, not us'. I could tell from the body language around the table everyone wasn't happy by what they had seen. I've worked with great coaches like Bobby Robson and Terry Venables and they wouldn't have allowed themselves to be treated like that.

"I wasn't surprised Sven didn't drop Becks or even substitute him when he wasn't playing well during Euro 2004.

"The whole country thought Beckham should have been taken off in the defeat against Portugal but I knew Eriksson wouldn't do it.

"People inside the camp told me Becks shouldn't even have started the game. And Sven told one of them: 'I'd rather resign than leave my captain out'."

Buxton added: "David would leave his Bentley right outside the team hotel and just rush off after training, although I'm sure Sven knew about it.

"But Beckham seems to be involved in everything, which I discovered when I went to my tailor to get fitted up for our World Cup 2002 suits.

"Three times I had to go for a change and when I complained to the tailor he said: 'Blame Mr Beckham - he keeps changing the style'. My shoes were so tight I got blisters!"