For Sven-Goran Eriksson, the England manager-elect, the drums are beginning to roll. By the middle of next week, we may have to drop the word "elect" from his current title if and when his Serie A side Lazio disappoint in their Champions League second phase game at home to Leeds United.
Pressure is mounting for the genial Swede. Lazio's 2-0 Serie A defeat away to Parma on Sunday was the Roman club's second in four days following a 1-0 Champions League loss away to Belgian side Anderlecht on Wednesday and the signs of dissent were there for all to see on Sunday as fans from the "Curva Nord", the Lazio kop, held up a banner at Parma reading, "Eriksson, Go".
For the time being, Lazio's ruling dynasty, the Cragnotti family, are standing by their man. Sources close to the club suggest that D-Day for Eriksson will come against Leeds at the Olympic Stadium next Tuesday, as defeat for Lazio might make the manager's position untenable. Lazio's relatively poor autumnal form has seriously compromised the Swede's position, adding to the pressures he brought on himself last month when he accepted the England job.
Sunday's loss to Parma was Lazio's fourth defeat of the season. Yet, last season Lazio went unbeaten for 18 consecutive games from late August, when they beat Manchester United in the European Super Cup, through to a traumatic 4-1 Rome derby defeat by AS Roma on November 21st.
Eriksson defended himself with his usual gentlemanly dignity on Sunday night, saying: "I've never thought of resigning and I'm not going to. Lazio's problems are elsewhere, I'm not the problem and that banner from the fans leaves me indifferent."
In public, at least, Lazio players and club officials agree, arguing that the coach's decision to take the England job has nothing to do with the current "crisis", a point borne out by the fact that Lazio had already lost to Arsenal in the Champions League and to Verona in Serie A long before Eriksson even sat down to talk with the English FA.
Yet, when there is a crisis there is nothing as useful as a scapegoat and his acceptance of the England job could yet be the excuse used by Lazio to politely show Eriksson the door.
If Eriksson were to go next week, then Lazio already have two "in house" replacements on standby in the shape of current number two coach, Roberto Mancini and Lazio vice president Dino Zoff.
Whilst 35-year-old Mancini, in his first season on the sidelines after ending his playing career last May, might yet seem on the inexperienced side, Zoff would seem to represent an ideal solution.
Back in January 1997, Zoff stepped down from the boardroom and back onto the pitch after the club had sacked Czech coach Zdenek Zeman. The man who guided Italy to within 20 seconds of winning this summer's European Championships did a good job too, guiding Lazio on an unbeaten run that ended with a commendable fourth-place finish in Serie A.
Whilst the Cragnotti family takes its time about deciding on a long-term replacement for Eriksson, Zoff could prove a more than effective caretaker solution.
In the meantime, Eriksson's the man . . . at least until next Tuesday.
