City seal UEFA Cup spot

Manchester City will play in the UEFA Cup next season.

The Premier League have confirmed City have held off the challenge of Fulham to finish sixth in the English Fair Play table but crucially above any team who has not already qualified for Europe.

It means City will enter the competition at the first qualifying round stage in July on what they hope will be the start of a long run to the final in Istanbul next May.

Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has branded the club's back-door entry into Europe as a dream.

"It is like the dream come true," Eriksson told the club's website, www.mcfc.co.uk. "Our dream to play in Europe has been strong all season. At one point we were almost sure to get there, at other points we have been almost out of it, but now this news is absolutely fantastic."

For his part, owner Thaksin Shinawatra kept his reponse to a minimum, saying merely he was "delighted".

Ironically, City have already confirmed they will not be able to host the first qualifying round tie at Eastlands as the pitch is due to be relaid once a Bon Jovi concert has taken place in June.

With Old Trafford ruled out for obvious reasons and most Lancashire grounds either relaying their surface or deemed unsuitable, Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium, which usually plays host to rugby league in the summer, has been mentioned as a possible alternative.

Either way, having gained entry into the competition one year ahead of schedule according to the blueprint of Dr Thaksin, City will be fancied to reach the main stages in September.

The draw for the first qualifying round is not due to be made until June 30, but the Blues already know they have been placed in the Northern section.