Sven joins Notts County
Sven-Goran Eriksson insists money is not the motivation for his new role as director of football at tiny League Two club Notts County.
Former England coach Eriksson has agreed a five-year contract worth a reported two million pounds (3.3 million dollars) a year to help County rise from the bottom division of English football to the Premier League.
The Swede's stunning move to the world's oldest football club has been funded by Munto Finance, a Middle East consortium backed by Dubai billionaire Abdullah Bin Saeed Al Thani.
But Eriksson, recently sacked as Mexico coach, was adamant that his salary wasn't the decisive factor in his arrival at Meadow Lane, although he will also be a shareholder in the club.
"If it was for the money I could have gone elsewhere easily for much more money. I am not here for the money, I am here for the challenge," Eriksson said at his first press conference on Wednesday.
"I'm not here for the weather or the city. If I want that I go to Italy or wherever. I am here for the big challenge. That is the truth.
"I know it is the oldest league club in the world. They were in the top division the year before the Premier League started. It hasn't been that good since then but we are here to change that. The dream is to be in the Premier League."
Eriksson was quick to dismiss suggestions that his commitment to County will be less than 100 per cent.
The former Manchester City boss will move to Nottingham and plans to attend virtually every match while he oversees signings, the development of a worldwide scouting system and helps County move to a new training ground.
"I will be based in Nottingham. It would not be possible to do the job living in London or Sweden," he said.
"When my agent first asked if I would be interested in Notts County I said I'm not sure about that. But after listening to the owners and seeing the project I became interested and here I am."
Eriksson admitted he doesn't know any of County's players or their rivals in League Two, but he revealed that the club wanted him because they believe his global contacts will attract top-class players as the team moves up the leagues.
"I don't know the players here and I don't know the players in League Two at all," he said.
"But in international football I know a lot of agents and players. Since this news came out my phone is hot all the time asking how much we can pay for players.
We can't pay Premier League salaries to players in League Two though, we have to be sensible.
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