NOTTINGHAM – Sven Goran Eriksson has always been something of a polarizing so-and-so. To peoples of several nations he’s an international lampoon; to others he’s an archetypal figure in English folklore, and for all the right reasons.

Not to disappoint his divided followers, in a shock move this week Sven was unveiled in the lofty position of Director of Forestry Affairs, for the ward of Sherwood Forest. The appointment was made by his long-time enemy come-friend, the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Sven brings with him his backroom band of staff including a ‘three score’ group of fellow outlawed players yeomen – called his ‘Merry Men’ – and an authentic Mexican scout.

The former England manager, and one-time socialist renegade, was introduced to the media beside a tree, on a muddy path in the forest on Wednesday afternoon.

In his premier interview Sven, originally of Loxley, Sweden, said taking Sherwood Forest to National Park status within five years represented the “biggest challenge of my vigilante life”.

Sven acknowledged he was skeptical about the newly created role to begin with but was convinced to take the role, and to leave behind his rich-robbing ways, after meeting with the forest’s hierarchy, and animals.

Eriksson has also confirmed that  he will be relocating from his “fucking massive house” that he still owns from his time as Manchester City manager, and into a tree house, “up high enough so that Ulrika ‘the Maid Marion’ Johnson can’t find me”.

Sherwood Forest is currently sat in the Coca-Cola League 2 of English parks, wetlands, forests and open spaces. However, under Sven’s tenure Sherwood Forest is soon hoping to climb up the leagues and break into the ‘big four’ – currently made up of the Forest of Dean, the New Forest, the Black Forest and that new-money, poorly-supported London park who buys up all the good trees at over-inflated prices and that everyone subsequently loves to hate - Hampstead Heath.