Sven-Goran Eriksson has told the BBC he hopes revelations in his former lover Ulrika Jonsson's book will not end his England career.

Speaking in Bratislava ahead of Saturday's Euro 2004 qualifier in Slovakia, the England manager said: "I really hope I do not have to resign.

The first part of the serialisation of Jonsson's book is due to be published in this week's Mail on Sunday.

Eriksson said: "My life has been made more difficult - but not the job.

"I do not feel the pressure any more than when we went to the World Cup finals."

But the 54-year-old refused to comment on what revelations would make him quit.

I really believed I'd get another call because he was insistent to me that his relationship with Nancy would end

Ulrika Jonsson

"I have no idea what is coming out in the next few days and weeks," the former Lazio and Gothenburg boss said.

Jonsson has reportedly received �1m for her autobiography, Honest.

Speaking in her first interview since confirming the affair, the host of BBC game show Dog Eat Dog said her fellow Swede was "too frightened" to leave his Italian girlfriend, according to newspaper reports.

The former weather girl reportedly told the Daily Mail being with "highly ambitious" lawyer Nancy Dell'Olio "was not the life that he wanted".

She is quoted as saying: "He was tired of their arguing," she is quoted as saying. He was going to end things, irrespective of me.

Eriksson and girlfriend Nancy Dell'Olio have stayed together

"I really believed I'd get another call because he was insistent to me that his relationship with Nancy would end.

"I can only believe what people say, he's frightened of her.

"I don't have much sympathy for her.

"How can you be told every day that you're not wanted and not loved but still stay?"

According to the paper, Jonsson, 35, met Eriksson at a party held by Tony Blair's spin doctor Alastair Campbell.

He reportedly asked her in Swedish if she would give him her telephone number so that he could call her.

She said in the newspaper her relationship with Eriksson was "loving" and "warm" not "shabby, shoddy or cheap".

"I felt very loved by him. He was charming and generous emotionally. He was a real gentleman," she added.

Great shame

During the affair, Eriksson, "visited her home", took her out for "lunch and dinner" and "phoned two or three times a day".

The mother-of-two reportedly said she did not look back on the four-month relationship with her fellow Swede "with any longing" but added: "I do have moments when I think 'Well, that's a great shame'."

The pair's affair hit the headlines in April.

It was Jonsson who finally ended the speculation, issuing a statement admitting they had been close.

But she strongly denied allegations that she him issued an ultimatum to leave his girlfriend.