Latest developments and discussion of recent events in the Ukraine War

[george]

Govt hints that it will abandon Liverpool stake deal

BANGKOK: -- The government gave many strong hints yesterday that it was giving up the controversial bid to buy a 30percent stake in Liverpool Football Club, questioning the club’s financial situation and voicing concern over the special lottery plan to finance the purchase.

Cabinet ministers leaked comments to the press, saying Thailand would reorganise the way the club did business if the bid succeeded.

This, observers say, was apparently aimed at discouraging the club from agreeing to the deal, which has created a political storm in Thailand.

Despite initially failing to heed warnings that Liverpool FC is far from a perfect investment choice, government officials are now mentioning the club’s financial burdens, although they say Liverpool’s reputation alone is still a sound investment.

“What I fear is not the financial status of the team but the opposition by several groups, especially senior figures,” said Deputy Commerce Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal, the chief Thai negotiator on the deal.

Government Spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said in a separate interview that the Thaksin administration would have to take into account the feelings of Thai people.

Opposition to the lottery plan has become tumultuous and a signature campaign has been launched to block the deal.

Even PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s political mentor, Chamlong Srimuang, came out on Monday to harshly criticise him.

“Because the talks with Liverpool still go on, the lottery plan will be suspended for a while,” Jakrapob said.

“The negotiations with the club will go on, but the prime minister has made it clear he would not push forward stubbornly or simply walk away without reasons.”

“Promoting vice is never my idea,” the PM said. “But Thai society undeniably still indulges in gambling, and that’s a reason why my government has issued new lottery tickets to compete with the underground lottery. In the Liverpool case, it’s not at all about gambling. People who are criticising me just don’t understand what I’m doing.”

Pongsak said Liverpool had ฃ2.8 million (Bt208 million) in cash, assets of ฃ100 million and a debt of about ฃ18.9 million. The figures could not be independently confirmed by the club.

While saying the club’s reputation would provide “immeasurable brand value” to Thailand and help lift the country’s image internationally, Pongsak again cautioned that the deal was not final and suggested that if it fell through the Kingdom was willing to look at other teams. “If you see the Cabinet resolution, you will see that the Cabinet approved the lottery to buy an English Premier League team,” he said. “We did not name the team. That means we can go to another if the current bid fails.”

Government officials said the prime minister’s working team had uncovered the “diversity” of Liverpool businesses and was worried by it. “Unlike other leading clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton, which have been involved in sportrelated activities only, Liverpool has diversified its business,” said a government source, who asked not to be named.

“If Thailand manages to buy the 30percent stake, we will have to demand substantial control of the way the club does its business.”

--The Nation 2004-05-02

[Doi Thong]

How typical ahh? To propose or get involved in some unrealistic idea-an pull out after being criticised. Amazing Thailand...:-)

[whattodo]

Beleive me Thaksin and co are not stupid,there smell now being shafted by scousers !!!!!!!!!!

Good on yer Mr Thaksin before its too late pull out now !!

How about a stake in not fulham but ever considered Sunderland?

Odds on for next seasons campaign (we do need the money yes )

[whattodo]

where did i see that photo of a tuk tuk on bricks ?

[Rinrada]

Scousers might loose their EGOS but the never loose Face....aw.rite laa...

[whattodo]

aah rite laa ?

aaallll Reeet bonny lad

[Darknight]

his income from the elite card has been low , so no money for footy-balls

Stil 999.500 cards left...... only 1 million bath ....

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Half baked ideas.

[snoophound]

Badly concieved idea

Thailand should focus on its own cultural activities and people.

Thai lager louts?

Unbelievable and only in an asian country could such a silly govt sponsored scheme get up.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Badly concieved idea

Thailand should focus on its own cultural activities and people.

Thai lager louts?

Unbelievable and only in an asian country could such a silly govt sponsored scheme get up.

It is floundering though ( a little bit like Cheerless Leaders Elite card ) It migh be best if he tried to manage the government and forget about being an entrepreneur.

[castelleone]

I think this idea with Liverpool was wicked from the beginning. The pm will be well advised to pull out quickly because this matter will provide a negative press for him as long as Thailand is involved with that silly story.

Thailand should think of more serious ways to improve the country.

[Richard W]

Even PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s political mentor, Chamlong Srimuang

Is this truly their relationship? I thought General Chamlong was a man of principle.

[Up2U]

Sh1t, sh1t, sh1t. Now I can't win a billion on the lottery.

(Unless our Redless Leader comes up with another need for the money - maybe buy Collingwood in the AFL?)

[ovenman]

“If Thailand manages to buy the 30percent stake, we will have to demand substantial control of the way the club does its business.”

Let me see if I've got this straight. The Thai government proposes to buy a 30% share of a business and for this they expect to receive "substantial control" over that business. If they are not allowed to take over business operations with their minority stake, the Thais are taking their money and going home.

At the same time, there is continual talk of the privatization by the Thai government of various state-run enterprises such as Thai Airways. If you examine this particular proposed plan, by "privatization" the government plans to reduce their share in THAI from 93% to 70% including a 10% share for some strategic partner (i.e. another airline). Does anybody for a moment think that even if that partner's share were increased to 30% that the partner would receive "substantial control" of the goings-on at THAI?

I'm sure the reasons being floated for a potential Liverpool pullout are nothing more than face-saving b.s. but still, this excuse is a classic.

[ThaiPauly]

Badly concieved idea

Thailand should focus on its own cultural activities and people.

Thai lager louts?

Unbelievable and only in an asian country could such a silly govt sponsored scheme get up.

I agree entirely, if that sort of money was available then why not start a fantastic football academy in Thailand anyway, many high profile ex-players could be hired to train yougsters and I am sure thre are many ex-pats who would be willing to work as scouts for next to nothing if they were given visas. LOS is norhere in the world of Football and thats a shame, buying a stake in Liverpool would nott really have changed that so why not start at grass roots level, in a country with this size of population there must be a lot of wasted talent that could be unearthed and nurtured to make Thailand a reasonable team within 10 years. Good on Stefan effenberg for starting the ball rolling (sorry for the pun). I never liked him as a player but I respect what he is doing, a few more like him, even if they were paid and Thailand may have a chance in the 2014 World Cup

Just my opinion thats all

[Udox]

I wonder if The most honourable Tony Blair, the British PM would be allowed to purchase a 1/3rd stake in a Thai, High Profile National Enterprise and then hope to make 'substantial changes'?

He struggles to do what he wants in his own country- never mind one on the other side of the world

Touche!

[danxav]

This will be the wisest thing Taksin has done since becoming PM. but i am appalled by the comments i have read in The Nation that "....an ex colonial power will lose face ......and that thailand has become a household name for weeks during this."

who does Taksin think he is? how dare he say that....there is no such thing in the uk as losing face its an asian thing and i think the only person who has lost face is Taksin himself. most liverpool fans dont want this deal anyway so we wont be losing and face or sleep for that matter over this.

As for the comments on thailand becoming a household name because of the deal is complete rubbish.........we all know thailand because of its prostitution......and it will always be.

Yet again taksin blaming anyone apart from himself......yet again taksin blaming farangs for his mistakes.......when will he learn to stop doing things for his own agenda and start doing things for the underprivalidged thai people.

[john b good]

"Cabinet ministers leaked comments to the press, saying Thailand would reorganise the way the club did business if the bid succeeded"

Isn't it hilarious "reorganise" when they can't even organise or reorganise anything here on their home turf.

Thaksin is and always has been a dreamer. And is thought of as a laughing stock most everywhere in the world.

God knows how he got a PhD (oop's I forgot. If you got money you can get anything you want, particularly here in the realm)

[astral]

Interesting to see how different The Nation report is compared with the Bangkok Pest.

No mention in the BP of abandoning the deal, just making it privately funded.

[Bob Chittie]

Why doesn't he just buy it with his own money???

[surfercaesar]

I think that this new manuever of the gov't is simply a tactical fishing scheme to find out if they can "CONTROL"" businesses abroad just as if they do here in Thailand. Another example of this "CONTROL" scheme is the Carlsberg deal.

Only in Thailand!!!!!Maybe the next excuse will be,since they can only have 1 director in the board with a 30% stake is not acceptable and therefor they can cancel or renag on the deal. Isn't this typical Thai way of doing business!!!

[ChiangmaiJim]

If Mr.Thaksin wants to do something good for Thailand, and he is determined to spend the money in England, then I would advise him to invest the money into driving schools, rather than football clubs. This would give a better return in the long term, especially for the farangs!!!

ps.

Leave Sunderland alone!

[ovenman]

Why doesn't he just buy it with his own money???

That's really been the question all along. When this deal was first announced, Mr. Big was ostensibly buying into Liverpool with his own hard-earned money. Nobody had a problem with that. Then it was announced that Mr. Big ummm... I mean Thailand, was buying into Liverpool with its citizen's hard-earned money. That's when the controversy erupted.

[maerim]

Why doesn't he just buy it with his own money???

There are only two types of money.

Yours and somebody else's money, yours you are careful with, somebody else's money?

Who gives a toss?

[thaitanic]

Why doesn't he just buy it with his own money???

That's really been the question all along. When this deal was first announced, Mr. Big was ostensibly buying into Liverpool with his own hard-earned money. Nobody had a problem with that.

Actually a lot of Liverpool fans had a problem with that because of Thaksin's corruption and poor human rights record.

[taxexile]

Actually a lot of Liverpool fans had a problem with that because of Thaksin's corruption and poor human rights record

could that be because liverpool people are strangers to corrupt practices and violations of anothers rights or is it just because liverpool people are just as hypocritical as the rest of humanity.?

[A. BOOZER]

What about the other L_ _ _ _ of a team, Leeds, could be going CHEAP!

[englishoak]

Well what a surprise eh

As for saving face? It might work here in LOS a bit but anyone with any brains will know this is a backdown due to pressure and an underestimate of the Thai people when you go too far. As to making Thailand a household name for a bit? well it has given a lot of people something to laugh at in the UK and with the high profile of liverpool also around the world . Internationally I wold say it has done nothing for the respect of Thai businessmen and even less in the political field

Our cheerless leader has only added more embarrassment to his long list. So now we have.

1) Bird flu still on the loose and looking like there is no control methods here just constant denial and now quiet under-reported outbreaks. If it crosses over there will be he11 to pay.

2) The problems in the south are back with strong warnings on terrorist activity coming soon. Look forward to a very quiet tourist season in the south for sure.

3) The publicity scheme of buying Liverpool was a good plan but it only had a short lifespan, and the stalling tactic of buying with a state lottery has drawn it out a little longer but at the expense of upsetting too many people.

All in all TRT are having a very bad time this year. I wonder if this is a Thai example of kharma on a very large scale

Ps next tip is the overheating economy and measures to hide it till after the elections.

[ponder]

I think Thaksin should go ahead with the Liverpool deal. He could get his investment back very quickly by backing against them every time they play.

Bargirls apart, Liverpool are the best "lay" around.

[salty]

Everton.Everton,Everton