Thaksin Looking To Buy Manchester City For 6 Billion Baht

[chanchao]

I think it would be nice to have more Thai presence in the Premiership. So far I think it's just Chang Beer sponsoring Everton.

And nice to see Thaksin in the news again.

[sriracha john]

controversial midfielder Joey Barton has slammed some of the club's recent big-money signings. He told the Manchester Evening News: "This club and its fans deserve to be at the highest level."

Taking Barton's suggestion to heart... Thaksin has benevolently agreed to take over as starting midfielder... once he can get the colors of his jersey changed:

[sriracha john]

Thaksin turns investment ambitions to City

Manchester City’s search for outside investment has attracted a preliminary approach from Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand, who failed with a bid to buy a 30 per cent stake in Liverpool three years ago.

Although reports in Thailand of a £92.5 million offer for the Barclays Premiership club are premature, City are understood to have fielded an initial inquiry from Thaksin or his representatives with a view to a substantial investment.

The reports first surfaced on a “pro-Thaksin” website that was set up in Thailand after he was ousted as Prime Minister in a coup d’étatlast September.

The website claimed that Mohamed Al Fayed, the billionaire owner of Fulham, was involved in talks on behalf of Thaksin, who, it also claimed, had partners lined up in China and the Middle East, where he is at present on holiday. A spokesman for Thaksin suggested that the 57-year-old would hold a press conference to discuss the reports on his return to London, where he is in exile.

It remains to be seen how City’s board would react to a firm offer from Thaksin, whose government’s human rights record caused concern among many associated with Liverpool in 2004. This, along with an adverse reaction in Thailand, led to the bid’s failure.

John Wardle, the City chairman, was understood to favour a bid from a North American consortium, but, with no firm offer forthcoming, the club are exploring other possibilities as they search for investment.

- The Times (UK)

[sriracha john]

Thaksin has some competition..... In Thailand, that would usually result in a "mysterious disappearance"... not sure about in the UK though.

Ranson launches Manchester City takeover

Manchester City have received a £90million takeover bid from a British-based consortium headed by former player Ray Ranson.

Ranson, who previously failed in an attempt to buy Aston Villa, lodged his offer with the Eastlands outfit on Monday night and is currently awaiting a response.

Although Stock Market rules prevent Ranson discussing his bid, it is thought any deal would result in a £20million transfer windfall for manager Stuart Pearce.

City chairman John Wardle has been in discussions with various parties over the sale of his 29% stake in the club, owned jointly with business partner David Makin, although so far there has been no sign of a deal being concluded.

An unnamed American consortium currently seem best placed to complete a buyout of Wardle's shares, but former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was also linked with a possible bid on Monday.

However, the Ranson offer is the first concrete proposal to be put before Wardle and it is likely a board meeting will be convened at some point within the next 24 hours to discuss a formal response.

- Grimsby Telegraph (UK)

[baboon]

I have no problem with him owning 49% of a football club providing he can prove his company is not a sham, only set up to own something and is prepared to spend only 90 days in 180 in the UK.

[enyaw]

Reports: Thaksin buys Manchester City

BANGKOK: Deposed Thai prime minister and football fan Thaksin Shinawatra, who once tried to purchase Liverpool, may be considering buying another English Premier League team, his lawyer hinted yesterday.

Noppadol Pattama would not confirm local press reports that the billionaire Thaksin, in exile in Britain since his September ouster, would try to buy a stake in Manchester City.

But he said Thaksin was considering a stake in an English club.

“He is looking to do some business, and it is possible that he will buy a team because he loves football,” Noppadol said.

“But I cannot confirm or deny it yet. It will be more clear in the next few weeks.”

Local media reported that Thaksin had already bought Manchester City, currently languishing at the bottom of the premiership, for six billion baht (US$184mil) with the help of investors in China and the Middle East.

The papers said that Fulham owner Mohammad Al Fayed, a friend of Thaksin, had also helped with the purchase.

– AFP

If this is true then good luck to him, he will certainly need it, apparently Pearce has just orded his players to drive around the M60 Manchester ring road like "mad men" as it's the only way they'll get 3 points.

[sriracha john]

Former Thailand PM lining up City bid

Former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been linked with a move to buy Manchester City.

Reports from the Far East claim Shinawatra, 57, is considering a £92.2 million bid for City and has backing from investors in China and the Middle East.

Under-fire chairman John Wardle is reportedly considering offers for the club with an American consortium expressing an interest in the Eastlands outfit.

Shinawatra's legal counsel, Noppadon Pattama, said he will respond to the speculation later this week.

"As soon as [Thaksin] finishes his vacation, I will ask him about it and hold a news conference," Pattama told The Nation newspaper.

Shinawatra is on holiday in the Middle East and will return to have meetings in China about purchasing City, according to reports.

In 2004, Shinawatra was linked with a 30 per cent stake in Liverpool but the deal fell through.

The former policeman is believed to have a fortune of around £560 million from Thailand's biggest communications group, Shin Corp.

While he was in charge of the country, he was also linked with Fulham and Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Shinawatra was ousted from power by a military coup in Thailand in September last year after critics accused him of corruption and abusing his power.

- In The News (UK)

[sriracha john]

* double post...

[sriracha john]

It's up to 7.5 Billion Baht now....

£108m Thai bid for City

MANCHESTER CITY were last night the subject of a shock £108million takeover bid by former Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.

And as part of his stunning offer, Shinawatra promised to make £50million of that money immediately available for new players.

The proposal came at the end of a week when it appeared former City full-back Ray Ranson had the upper hand in the fight for the club.

But while he could offer only £20m for players, Shinawatra has more than doubled that.

He wants to take control of the club for £58m, which will include buying shares and paying off chairman John Wardle and his business partner David Makin.

The pair are owed £20million in personal loans to City but Shinawatra, 57, has a personal fortune of around £2billion.

He worked as a Thai policeman before taking advantage of a number of business opportunities.

His most lucrative was Advanced Info Services, Thailand’s largest mobile phone operator.

He won a landslide re-election in 2005 but was overthrown in a bloodless military coup in September 2006 and now intends to set up home permanently in the UK. *first I've heard of THAT*

He tried to buy Liverpool but failed and is now intent on getting City and making them a Premiership force.

City are already sceptical about Ranson’s offer. Having said that, Ranson remains good friends with prominent board member and ex-City team-mate Dennis Tueart.

There is little doubt Shinawatra has the cash and Wardle has always maintained he would only sell for the good of the club.

By that he primarily meant that a major investment could be made on the playing side.

City boss Stuart Pearce is desperate for his side to avoid setting a new low in Premiership history for home goals scored.

They have managed just 10 all season and need one more to match Sunderland’s 2002/03 tally.

Pearce’s side have not scored at home in the league since New Year’s Day and host Villa today and Manchester United on May 5.

Pearce said: “I can tell you we do not want that record of scoring the lowest number of home goals in a season.It’s not a record we would be proud of.”

ALL SMILES ... then Newcastle boss Bobby Robson meets Shinawatra ahead of a friendly v Thailand

- The Sun (UK)

[george]

Thaksin in ฃ108m bid for Man City

MANCHESTER CITY: -- Manchester City were on Friday night the subject of a shock ฃ108-million (Bt7 billion) takeover bid by former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the London daily The Sun reported yesterday.

And as part of his stunning offer, Thaksin promised to make ฃ50 million of that money immediately available for new players, the paper said without naming sources.

The proposal came at the end of a week when it appeared former City full-back Ray Ranson had the upper hand in the fight for the club.

But while he could offer only ฃ20 million for players, Thaksin has more than doubled that.

He wants to take control of the club for ฃ58 million, which will include buying shares and paying off chairman John Wardle and his business partner David Makin.

The pair are owed ฃ20 million in personal loans to City, but Thaksin, 57, has a personal fortune of around ฃ2 billion.

He worked as a policeman before taking advantage of a number of business opportunities.

His most lucrative was Advanced Info Services, Thailand's largest mobile-phone operator.

Thaksin, elected in 2001, became the first Thai PM to lead an elected government through a full four-year term.

He won a landslide re-election in 2005 but was overthrown in a bloodless military coup last September and now intends to set up home permanently in the UK.

He tried to buy Liverpool but failed and is now intent on getting City and making them a Premiership force.

City are already sceptical about Ranson's offer, but Ranson remains good friends with prominent board member and ex-City team-mate Dennis Tueart.

There is little doubt Thaksin has the cash, and Wardle has always maintained he would only sell for the good of the club.

By that he primarily meant that a major investment could be made on the playing side.

--The Nation 2007-04-29

[sriracha john]

[sriracha john]

Second bid for Man City

Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister of Thailand, has tabled a formal bid for Manchester City, and is promising the struggling Premier League club a transfer kitty in the region of £50m.

The bid, thought to be about £80m but not including transfer funds, was formally presented on Friday and is understood to be for the entire share capital of the club.

Manchester City has debts of about £60m, including £24m owed to board directors, as well as stadium-related and lease debt. Though the team is struggling this season - it was defeated by Aston Villa this weekend and has not scored at home since New Year's Day - it will narrowly avoid relegation this season.

The board last week revealed it had received expressions of interest for the club which has equity of about £17m. It leases the City of Manchester stadium from Manchester city council, paying rent based on turnover.

Mr Thaksin is a diehard football fan previously linked to a bid for Liverpool. He is thought to be offering support to Manchester City's present management and will fund the deal entirely through his own resources.

The ousted Thai prime minister faces competition from Ray Ranson, the former Manchester City player who last week put in a revised offer for the club.

Mr Ranson, who made his money out of insurance after he retired from professional football, is thought to be backed by Sisu Capital, a hedge fund.

- Financial Times

[sriracha john]

Ex-Thai PM mum on Man City football plans

BANGKOK - Thailand's deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has kept mum about reports that he made a surprise 108 million pound offer to buy an English Premier League club, his lawyer said Monday.

Noppadol Pattama, Thaksin's spokesman in Bangkok, said that in recent conversations the ousted premier had not said anything about reports regarding the purchase of Manchester City.

"I can not deny nor confirm the report," he said.

Britain's Sun newspaper reported Saturday that Thaksin had made a 108 million pound (215 million dollar) offer to buy the club, including 50 million pounds (99.7 million dollars) to recruit new players.

The reports came as it appeared former City fullback Ray Ranson was set to take over the club.

In 2004, Thaksin led a Thai consortium that tried to purchase a 30 percent stake in Liverpool, angering fans who wanted to keep the team in British hands.

The bid eventually fell through, though Liverpool now has American owners.

Thaksin is a billionaire who made a fortune in telecoms before becoming prime minister in 2000.

His family made 1.9 billion dollars in cash in January 2006 on the sale of his Shin Corp telecom firm. The deal sparked popular unrest that eventually led to the coup that brought down his government in September.

- AFP

[helicoptor]

Reports: Thaksin buys Manchester City

BANGKOK: Deposed Thai prime minister and football fan Thaksin Shinawatra, who once tried to purchase Liverpool, may be considering buying another English Premier League team, his lawyer hinted yesterday.

Noppadol Pattama would not confirm local press reports that the billionaire Thaksin, in exile in Britain since his September ouster, would try to buy a stake in Manchester City.

But he said Thaksin was considering a stake in an English club.

“He is looking to do some business, and it is possible that he will buy a team because he loves football,” Noppadol said.

“But I cannot confirm or deny it yet. It will be more clear in the next few weeks.”

Local media reported that Thaksin had already bought Manchester City, currently languishing at the bottom of the premiership, for six billion baht (US$184mil) with the help of investors in China and the Middle East.

The papers said that Fulham owner Mohammad Al Fayed, a friend of Thaksin, had also helped with the purchase.

– AFP

If this is true then good luck to him, he will certainly need it, apparently Pearce has just orded his players to drive around the M60 Manchester ring road like "mad men" as it's the only way they'll get 3 points.

[Jai Dee]

AEC Chairman believes BOT should investigate football team purchase by former PM

The Chairman of the Asset Examination Committee (AEC) believes that Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra's stake in the Manchester City football team should be investigated.

Asset Examination Committee (AEC) Chairman, Mr. Nam Yimyam (นาม ยิ้มแย้ม), said that reports of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's 7 billion baht procurement of stocks in the Manchester City football team should be investigated by the Bank of Thailand, as the AEC's responsibilities did not fall into this jurisdiction.

Meanwhile the incident in which the Interim Leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party, Mr. Chaturon Chaisang (จาตุรนต์ ฉายแสง), alleged that his criticism of the Asset Examination Committee (AEC) as a kangaroo court was made out of sincere concern for the welfare of the nation, was rebuffed by Mr. Nam as an attempt at condemning the AEC and does not fall into the realms of constructive criticism. The AEC Chairman affirmed that the next figure who insulted the AEC would be prosecuted.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 April 2007

[sriracha john]

Thai bid for City could make £50m available for new players

Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire former prime minister of Thailand, has moved into pole position in the battle to buy Manchester City after outlining a £130m takeover package to the board that could see as much as £50m available to spend on players in the summer.

No bid will become formal until the completion of due diligence. City granted permission for that last night. Sources close to negotiations said yesterday that Thaksin's approach is a "proper offer" that puts him "way ahead of other parties at this stage". Crucially, it is understood that Thaksin has proved that he has the cash ready and waiting to do a deal.

Insiders insist that if Thaksin does take control, it is unlikely that Sam Allardyce, who has just parted company with Bolton Wanderers, will be installed as the new manager. Stuart Pearce might be given the chance to argue his case to remain in charge. Even if he failed, Thaksin would probably prefer to hire an experienced European coach but Sven Goran Eriksson is not on his radar, sources say.

The Thai approach does not come without baggage. In 2004, Thaksin, 57, was involved in unsuccessful talks to buy Liverpool. He said at the time that he was a Liverpool fan but there were doubts about his motives and funding. It was suggested that he primarily wanted to take control at Anfield as an electioneering tool as the Premiership is very popular in Thailand.

It was also unclear how his Liverpool buyout would work at that time, and whether he would use private money or state funds. Human rights campaigners also accused Thaksin's administration of various offences, especially in relation to a hard-line anti-drugs campaign. Human Rights Watch said this led to more than 2,500 extra-judicial killings in 2003.

Before entering politics, Thaksin had a successful career in the Thai police and thrived as an entrepreneur. He established a communications firm, the Shin Corporation, which he sold last year for £1bn. His personal fortune is estimated to be worth double that.

Since being overthrown by a military junta in a bloodless coup last September, he has lived abroad in exile. He has recently bought a house near London but travels extensively.

Any deal will rest on whether Thaksin can convince City's chairman, John Wardle, that he is a serious, long-term investor. Wardle and his business partner, David Makin, own 29.75 per cent of the club between them. They are also owed around £21m in private loans to the club, which any buyer would need to repay.

Buying all the club's shares - if a formal bid is made, recommended and accepted - would cost up to £25m. External debts in the form of long-term bonds (effectively mortgages against future income) amount to around £40m. Thaksin might choose to clear this, but would not be obliged to. Thaksin is apparently prepared to spend a further £50m on players to help City push for a European place.

City have been courting bidders for six months. The only other named group to have made any progress in talks is a consortium led by former City defender, Ray Ranson. But despite Ranson making a variety of "indicative offers", City's board has made it clear that nothing he has offered so far has been remotely attractive. Particular concerns include the amount of money available for a transfer kitty, and the potential levels of debt and risk involved in a Ranson takeover, which would be funded by Sisu Capital, a hedge fund whose priority would making a profit.

Sources say Thaksin, a genuine fan of football, if not City, is motivated by the Premiership's huge earning potential in Asia, especially in Thailand. City are hoping his offer becomes the real deal because he has shown more urgency in recent days than anyone, including an American group who have been weighing up a lesser bid for months.

Thaksin Shinawatra was born in 1949 in Chiang Mai and, after graduating from the Thai Police cadet academy, earned a scholarship to take a Master's degree in criminal justice at Eastern Kentucky University in the United States. He also received a doctorate from a Texas university and returned home to pursue a career first in the police (where he rose to a senior position before resigning in 1987) and then business.

He founded and grew a huge communications firm, Shin, sold last year for almost £1bn. He founded his Thai Rak Thai political party in 1998 and swept to power in 2001. Populist but controversial, he became the first elected prime minister in Thai history to complete a full term in office and was re-elected in 2005. It was during the run-up to the later election campaign that he tried to buy Liverpool in a bid that failed over doubts on funding and what day-to-day control he wanted.

There are no doubts he is a genuine football fan and Premiership follower (as are many millions of Thais), and he has been known to play in exhibitions. Ousted in a coup last year, he lives in exile. He is married and has one son and two daughters.

- The Independent (UK)

[sriracha john]

Man City open books to Thaksin

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra moved a step closer to buying Manchester City yesterday.

It is understood that City chairman John Wardle yesterday gave Thaksin's consortium permission to examine the club's accounts, says the Daily Mail.

This is expected to lead to a formal bid in the coming days. Thaksin and his backers favour appointing a foreign coach to replace Stuart Pearce, which would rule Allardyce out.

- tribalfooball.com

====================================

Thaksin has Pearce battling for Man City future

Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce is fighting for his future at Eastlands as Thaksin Shinawatra's takeover bid rolls on.

Shinawatra has been granted a period of due diligence, where he will inspect the club's accounts before making his offer formal, and is now the overwhelming favourite to win the three-way battle for ownership of City.

The Times says were Shinawatra's bid successful, it would have repercussions for Pearce, even if any decision might be left to the existing board. John Wardle, the chairman, and Alistair Mackintosh, the chief executive, have misgivings about the 45-year-old's prospects of taking the club forward after a disappointing second full season in charge, particularly after disagreements over his decision to coach England Under21 on a part-time basis.

- tribalfooball.com

[marshbags]

Just to back up S.J,s articles, it has been confirmed that permission to view the accounts and looks is quoted as the front runner at this stage.

Taken from the BBC Sports web site.

Quote:-

Last Updated: Tuesday, 1 May 2007, 07:25 GMT 08:25 UK

Ex-Thai PM steps up Man City bid

Former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has emerged as the frontrunner to buy Manchester City.

Thaksin has been granted access to the club's accounts and his advisers will carry out due diligence before reporting their findings to him.

Thaksin, who failed to buy Liverpool three years ago, has been linked with a £100m bid for City.

His offer is believed to be more favourable to City than that of rival bidder Ray Ranson.

The club were not happy with some of the terms of Ranson's initial proposal before he submitted an updated version.

But Thaksin made contact with City on Monday and the process for him to take over the Eastlands outfit has moved on quickly.

Due diligence allows a potential buyer to examine the accounts of the organisation in question and decide whether it is a worthwhile investment for them to make.

Please go to the url for the full article:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/t...ity/6610593.stm

Oh dear, reckon he,s using some of the laundered money....sounds dodgy to me and forgive the pun, could spell an own goal for Man City

But then he is just joining several others who use the same method of utilising questionable assets

IMHO of course...

marshbags

[sriracha john]

Thaksin nears purchase of Man City

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra now heads the lead bid of nearly 100-million-pound (6.5 billion baht) for Manchester City Football Club, and his accountants are to perform a due diligence examination of the team's books. Mr Thaksin moved into pole position to buy Manchester City after he was granted access to the club's accounts. His accountants will complete due diligence at City before advising their client whether to make a formal bid for the club. He was first linked with the Premiership three years ago when he made a bid to buy Liverpool but the club rejected his proposals. Liverpool were also condemned at the time, by groups such as Amnesty International, for entering into negotiations with Mr Thaksin due to his human rights record as prime minister.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=118455

[A_Traveller]

Glad to see that the Ph.D is still unable to come up with an original thought, suspect that Mohamed Fayed {note no Al, he's not entitled} gave his tenant {he owns the building in Park Lane that Thaksin's apartment is in} the advice, on 'how to assimilate into British culture'.

Regards

[Tony Clifton]

Same old tactics as before to get popular and stay afloat with the media. I'm sure the taxi drivers will appreciate.

Before selling to Thaksin, they should consult with Temasek and see the possible mess awaiting them after the sale...

[sriracha john]

Thaksin's football club bid - if Manchester only knew...

Is the red half of Manchester squirming or celebrating?

It's hard to tell because Thaksin Shinawatra, despite being the name on everyone's lips in the political world here, is as obscure to British football fans as the behaviour of storms is to Thai weathermen.

One Manchester City fan, responding on the popular www.teamtalk.com website to reports that Thaksin was planning to buy his beloved team, was dreaming about the club joining the world's top six.

Another "Blue" supporter voiced concern in a tongue-in-cheek manner that the ousted Thai leader could barricade the stadium and order fans shot if they booed the team after a poor performance.

Regardless of the rumours and reactions, Thaksin owning a British football club is an interesting idea, much much more exciting than when he tried unsuccessfully to buy Fulham and then Liverpool while in power a few years ago. Again, everyone has been left pondering his possible motives. Again, he's on global news networks, although it's ESPN and other sports desks that have taken the bait this time.

It's a sexier story than the Fulham and Liverpool sagas. Imagine Thaksin launching into player transfers - the most publicised and popular off-field activity of any sport in the world. Think of him sitting in the directors' box like Chelsea's Roman Abramovich, radiating his new-found clout to Thai viewers watching "Red Devils" Manchester United play the Blues live. He could be the first ever club-owner to have spats with other teams' coaches. Better still, he could buy and then work with the world's most arrogant football manager: the "Special One", Jose Mourinho.

The latest reports from British news and football websites said he had "moved into pole position" after being granted access to Manchester City Football Club's accounts. The Independent, quoting sources, said the man it described as having a humbler side, thanks to his "background" as a coffee vendor and fast-food waiter, had outlined a Bt9-billion bid.

How he could have that much cash outside of Thailand to finish the deal could become an issue. But nobody would be really surprised, even after his wife was practically on her knees recently begging the Thai authorities to allow the family to take Bt400 million abroad to fund a property-purchase plan in England.

If this is just another public-relations stunt by Thaksin, it's a high-stakes one. The reported Manchester City takeover scheme has brought his political "plight" back to an international audience, but at the same time it could give members of Thailand's interim government added motivation in their hunt for his allegedly ill-gotten assets. Thai-British diplomacy, on edge ever since he started his informal exile in London, could suffer from greater paranoia.

Longer-term scenarios are no less fascinating. British revenue officials, surely far more efficient than their Thai counterparts, could meet their match.

England's Football Association, not unfamiliar with murky player transfers that see obscene amounts of money changing hands among club-owners, players and agents every few months, might simply need to hire more staff.

Last but not least, England's football-fan culture could face the ultimate test. Thaksin is at best a football follower and does not support any team in particular.

From his statements when he tried to buy Liverpool, he didn't seem to understand that a club-owner should not interfere with team selection.

Many Liverpool fans in England were opposed to him partly because he failed to show he understood that supporters were the most essential part of any football club. Not that he would face street protests after buying Manchester City, but one thing he isn't apparently aware of is that a club-owner can be booed week in and week out in its own stadium by its own fans.

British football is getting more and more business-oriented, but most foreign buyers have always had to prove they recognise each club's heart and soul. As far as conviction is concerned, Manchester City FC's faithful may cringe if they knew what happened to the Palang Dharma Party, which Thaksin practically abandoned two years after taking it over. And as far as the club's current board is concerned, they might want to check out what happened to Singapore's Temasek Holdings before going into any mega-financial deal with Thaksin.

If he's intending just to drum up a new wave of attention, then Manchester City is lucky, and the club can go on and find an owner with real determination and passion. If he's serious about managing and running a football club in order to kill his time in exile or whatever, then we are all in for a big treat. If he wants to use the club as a political tool, he could soon hear "Thaksin Get Out!" chanted in perfect English in a packed City of Manchester Stadium.

Tulsathit Taptim

The Nation Editorial

[larvidchr]

I can see why this thread has 5 stars, this is really serius stuf, first India then British Leyland, Bently, Rolls Royce, and now two big football clubs, this is on par with Argentinas invasion of the Falklands.

Where have you put Maggie now you need her?

[PanzerJohn]

I wonder if he were to be charged and found guilty of his "alleged" wrongdoings, would that prevent him from being a suitable and proper person to own an English football club?.

[kmart]

I wonder if he were to be charged and found guilty of his "alleged" wrongdoings, would that prevent him from being a suitable and proper person to own an English football club?.

Considering the Abromoviches and Ridsdales and Ken Bates of the English game, I'd say Thaxo is well qualified to be right in there as a "suitable and proper person". The laundering of plundered money through the international transfer market; "bungs" during player sales; betting tips from dressing rooms; suitcases of cash in dark corridors; etc should be right down Thaxo's alley too.

Watching twenty two millionaires running around and diving, cheating, etc from the VIP lounge...?

Hog Heaven.

[Jai Dee]

Dr. Thaksin is leading the bid for Manchester City

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has confirmed today (May 2) that he and his advisors have made an indicative proposal to Manchester City about a possible takeover bid for the English Premier League club.

Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra has been linked with a move for Manchester City in the region of almost £100 million, and contact was finally made yesterday night. Dr. Thaksin is now residing in London after being deposed in a bloodless coup last year.

Previously, the former Prime Minister attempted to takeover Liverpool three years ago, but the club rejected his proposal.

According to speculations, favors Dr. Thaksin’s interest, and Manchester City Chairman John Wardle is keen to draw in hefty funds to finance the club.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 02 May 2007

[chanchao]

Taking Barton's suggestion to heart... Thaksin has benevolently agreed to take over as starting midfielder... once he can get the colors of his jersey changed:

No plomphem:

[sriracha john]

Taking Barton's suggestion to heart... Thaksin has benevolently agreed to take over as starting midfielder... once he can get the colors of his jersey changed:

No plomphem:

[sriracha john]

Pearce could keep job if former Thai prime minister buys Man City

London - Under-fire Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce could retain his job if former Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is successful in his takeover bid for the English Premiership club. Pearce had been widely tipped to be sacked in the summer - with former Bolton manager Sam Allardyce leading the race to replace him - after a disappointing season which has seen City permanently in the bottom half of the table.

But a report in Wednesday's Telegraph newspaper said Pearce could keep his job, while the paper said that Allardyce has been ruled out as a replacement.

Thaksin confirmed to the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday that he had submitted a takeover bid, believed to be around 100 million pounds.

"Thaksin confirms that he and his advisers have made an indicative proposal that may or may not lead to an offer being made for the company," he said in a statement.

City have given their permission for Thaksin to go through their books.

Former Manchester City player Roy Ranson has also been linked with a bid to buy the club, with his offer thought to be in the region of 90 million pounds.

Thaksin tried to buy into the Premiership three years ago when he was linked with Liverpool but his 65-million-pound bid was rejected.

Should he be successful, Thaksin would be the latest in a growing line of foreign investors in the Premiership.

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich began the influx of overseas owners when he bought Chelsea in 2003, while Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa are all under American ownership and West Ham United's owners are Icelandic.

- DPA

[Jimjim]

So will he bring any Thai players to Man. City?