Thai deal in jeopardy

May 19 2004

By Tony Barrett Echo Reporter

THE THAI bid to buy a 30% stake in Liverpool FC could collapse over a series of hitches.

Thai sources claim the club is reluctant to allow the consortium two seats on the Anfield board and total control of commercial rights in Asia in return for prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's proposed £65m investment.

It has also emerged that the Bank of Thailand may not be willing to bankroll the offer in case it appears biased towards the country's present government.

Liverpool is still refusing to comment on the situation but PM Thaksin says he remains hopeful a deal can be sealed.

He said today: "We can do something to a certain extent to narrow the difference between the two sides."

The governor of the Thai central bank, Pridiyathorn Devakula, is understood to be concerned about approving the multi-million pound transaction in case it gives the political opposition ammunition to use against him.

A central bank official in Bangkok said: "We have to look at things like this on a case by case basis. But we have not yet been asked to consider the Liverpool deal."

Another sticking point is believed to be Thaksin's insistence that the consortium is represented with two places on the Liverpool board of directors.

The Anfield club is thought to be highly reluctant to offer boardroom representation as part of any deal, although Thai sources remain confident a compromise will be reached.

If the Thai bid is dead in the water it could leave Liverpool without any new investment.

Only last week, Liverpool had two bids on the table - one from Thaskin and one from property tycoon Steve Morgan - with the promise of millions of pounds to be spent on new players and a proposed new stadium.

But after rejecting Mr Morgan's offer because it was deemed "unattractive", Anfield officials will be hoping they do not miss out on their preferred bid and the cash riches it could bring with it.

Two seats on the board... I wouldn't give him two seats on the #15 bus

I realy hope Liverpool ( the greatest club in the world, but going through a rough patch) ditch him and his offer.

Will ditch, will turn sour. The credibility and dignity issue will be upheld in the UK, before any ill thoughts of signing with a crook on a speculative Thai deal! Ouch...

I wonder if the UK are familiar with the backward, crook like deals Thaksin spins?

Thaimee.

Hope it falls through as I realy don't like the idea of Toxin playing his silly power games in the English football league. More to the point he is a crook IMHO and Liverpool would do well to investigate in detail before selling out.

As for the opposing bid At least Morgan is a real fan at heart, it's sad that it's not staying in English hands and the true Reds fans will not be allowed to own a part of one of the most famous clubs in the world.

I am not a Reds fan but feel for the scousers who have stuck by them only to have a potential investor who is not interested in anything other than a publicity stunt and a popularity vote which he so badly needs ATM. This is the man who tried to buy Fulham and is now chasing Liverpool ?

Fingers crossed it goes down the tube.

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THE GREATEST CLUB IN THE WORLD

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Sorry Dave, couldn't resist, you know I'll be back...