In the space of a few days, Sven-Goran Eriksson went from dead man walking to innocent victim. Having been accused of possibly lying to his bosses over his affair with Football Association secretary Faria Alam, the English tabloids smelt blood.
But then the News of the World revealed the FA offered to tell all about Eriksson's relationship with secretary Faria Alam, if the newspaper did not expose Mark Palios' affair with the same woman.
Eriksson was left holding all the aces and it was the FA being dragged through the mud.
In the past, Fleet Street has rarely allowed its victims to escape and it seemed only a matter of time before Eriksson was forced out of his �4m-a-year post.
Glenn Hoddle would testify that one mistake is all it takes to signal the end, especially if the team are not sweeping all before them on the pitch.
But the tables dramatically turned last Sunday.
Why should Eriksson be sacked for lying (if indeed he did) when it has become clear that his bosses have hardly been playing things by the book? It became conceivable that Eriksson would escape and the only fall-out for the Swede would be be another boost to his burgeoning reputation as an unlikely lothario.
So should the Swede be seen now as a slippery customer, or as a football coach who had achieved modest success with England, and who is entitled to his private life?
He arrived in England as a respected coach, but little was known about the man.
In four years, not much has changed.
He says he does not like seeing his private life in the newspapers, but then embarks on affairs with a high-profile television personality and an office secretary.
Such tales are manna from heaven for English tabloids, and he must have been aware of that, even if he did not agree with it.
Courting Manchester United and Chelsea behind the FA's back could also be seen as playing with fire.
But faced with the possibility of losing Eriksson, who had just led England through a successful Euro 2004 qualifying campaign, the FA rewarded him with an improved contract in March.
It made him one of the highest-paid national team managers in the world, despite the fact that his team were yet to win any trophies.
And thanks to that contract, the FA faced paying Eriksson an estimated �14m in compensation if it decided to sack him, an option some FA board members are believed to have favoured.
Away from the off-pitch scandals, Eriksson's coaching skills have been under fire since England's quarter-final exit at Euro 2004.
His negative tactics were criticised after the defeats to Portugal and France, and his loyalty to the out-of-form David Beckham was also questioned.
But Eriksson has the support of his players, and a lack of obvious replacements has further strengthened his hand. A double act of Sir Trevor Brooking, who has hardly any coaching experience, and Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren, who is relatively inexperienced, appears to be the best bet, according to newspaper speculation.
No wonder, then, that Eriksson arrived back in the country on Monday with a smile on his face.
With the spotlight shifted to a series of PR gaffes by Eriksson's bosses, the man himself escaped the tabloids' clutches once more.
MMIX
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