Eriksson seeks access guarantee from élite managers

The last time the Football Association brokered a summit between the England coach and the leading Premiership managers the purpose was to help the clubs. When Sven Goran Eriksson sits down with his domestic counterparts this week it is he who will be seeking assistance.

It is a change which reflects the clubs' growing power over their nominal masters, which was underlined yesterday when Europe's leading clubs called on Fifa, the sport's world governing body, to compensate them for providing players for the next World Cup in Germany with a share of profits from the tournament – which could amount to £40m.

English clubs may have won only two European trophies in the seven seasons since Terry Venables proposed an exchange of ideas on how they could succeed in Continental competition, but domestically they are more powerful than ever. Thus when Eriksson meets Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger and others it will not be to proffer his advice on how to succeed in Europe (as he did with Gothenberg and Lazio) but an attempt to guarantee his access to their players.

It is payment for players that most concerned Manchester United's chief executive, Peter Kenyon, in Brussels yesterday. Speaking in his role as a vice-president of the G-14 group, which represents 18 of Europe's richest clubs, Kenyon offered Fifa a deal. G-14, in return for money from the 2006 World Cup, would drop its opposition to the controversial Confederations Cup – being staged in France in June – and the Club World Championship planned for 2005.

"We accept that the Confederations Cup, for example, is contracted and will happen as planned, but we think there is a way we can work with Fifa," Kenyon said.

The issue of compensation for national team call-ups has long been a grievance with the G-14 group, which also includes Arsenal and Liverpool. Michael van Praag, of Ajax, said: "The only ones who do not benefit from the huge revenues of the World Cup finals are the clubs who provide the players."

The Eriksson summit initiative came from David Davies, the FA's acting chief executive, in the wake of England's home defeat to Australia in February. The defeat brought to a head the growing disquiet over Eriksson's policy of using players for just 45 minutes in friendlies. As well as strong media criticism, Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, described the match as "a farce".

Although Eriksson insists he decided on this policy himself, to protect players, rather than at the behest of club managers, the FA fears it makes the England coach look weak.

The FA is also concerned at the monetary impact of friendlies being devalued. In their financial predicament they need a strong hand in negotiations for a new television contract to cover England games.

Wayne Rooney's impact against Turkey underlined the importance of friendlies in discovering and developing players. The FA feels Eriksson has already shown understanding of club managers' commitments in giving up the opportunity to play a game this week, as he did in November and August. However, with England having to play a Euro 2004 qualifying fixture in Macedonia on 6 September, Eriksson does intend to take up the option of an August friendly. This will not be popular, especially with clubs involved in Champions' League qualifying.

The FA also hopes meetings such as this week's will smooth relations between Eriksson and those managers who are perceived as being, at best, ambivalent towards him. Eriksson will meet the managers in two sessions, today and tomorrow. Ferguson and Wenger, perhaps by chance, but perhaps not, will attend separate get-togethers.