Thaksin Looking To Buy Manchester City For 6 Billion Baht

[steveromagnino]

He obviously can raise the cash; most private banks would lend to him and he has plenty of potential partners. Issue is not with whether he has the cash, it is whether he is serious about the bid.

Many posters here have missed this point.

Mate if he was a serious sports fan, he'd buy the Warriors. That is what a mate would do.

yeah right :-)

[Plus]

I'm not sure he can raise the money easily unless he can show how he can make profits from a club like Man City, or show some serious collateral, not assets frozen in Thai banks.

He has zero experience in sports and football in particular. "I prefer European manager, not a British one" - as if he knows anything about managers.

Maybe he can find some fools who'd buy his ideas, but then don't forget his Liverpool bid collapsed at the same stage - finding people ready to invest. He was frantically searching for partners when his lottery scam collapsed. All in vain, people with that kind of money are not fools.

[sriracha john]

Eriksson left in the cold as City turn to Ramos

Sven-Goran Eriksson's hopes of a return to management with Manchester City appear to be dwindling with the club aiming to appoint the Sevilla coach Juande Ramos - and also move towards new ownership - within the next seven days.

Despite appearing to distance himself from speculation linking him with the City vacancy last week, Ramos remains at the top of the shortlist drawn up by chairman John Wardle and chief executive Alistair Mackintosh, a list which has received the approval of the two parties still in advanced negotiations to buy the club: Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai consortium and an unnamed American group.

Mackintosh has been charged with finding a manager to succeed Stuart Pearce since the beginning of last week, when Wardle moved to banish the uncertainty surrounding the club by regaining control of the appointment process from the prospective new owners.

With Ramos preoccupied with preparations for Sevilla's home game against Villarreal last night, City have been unconcerned by the Spaniard's reluctance to talk openly and favourably of a move to Eastlands.

However, having guided Sevilla to successive Uefa Cup triumphs in the last 13 months, Ramos is the lead name on a shortlist which, it is understood, does not even include the name of former England head coach Eriksson.

Mackintosh will increase his efforts to lure the 52-year-old Ramos to the Premiership ahead of Sevilla's Copa del Rey final against Getafe this weekend.

While Eriksson went public last month on his desire to discuss the possibility of managing City, he has few supporters inside the club and neither the Thais nor the Americans have called for the Swede to be placed on the managerial hit-list.

Despite a high-profile reputation generated by a CV that has seen him coach leading clubs in Italy and Portugal, Eriksson's last club post saw him spend huge sums to deliver success at Lazio and City are unconvinced by his ability to work without an open chequebook. A lukewarm response from supporters to the prospect of an Eriksson regime has also diminished his chances with the club's hierarchy.

Regardless of who actually owns City when the new campaign kicks off, on Aug 11, the new manager can expect a transfer kitty of at least £20 million to reinforce one of the smallest and least impressive squads in the Premiership.

While confident that a deal will be struck to complete the £105 million takeover within the next week, Wardle has authorised a substantial transfer fund. The £5.5 million sale of Joey Barton to Newcastle and an expected increase of £10 million from the new television deal has already been factored into the transfer account and Wardle is prepared to take the figure beyond £20 million.

That backing is expected to increase the appeal of City to Ramos, who would be turning his back on an assault on the Champions League next season should he leave Sevilla.

Having satisfied City that he continues to have the funds to complete his takeover, despite the freezing of £830 million of his fortune by Thailand's Assets Examination Committee last week, former Thai prime minister Shinawatra could finalise his purchase of the club before the weekend and end the uncertainty that has gripped the club since last season finished.

- Telegraph (UK)

[Plus]

So that Ramos guy won UEFA Cup and almost won Spanish La Liga and now they are confident he is

looking to join bottom dwellers of Premier League that haven't scored a goal at home for half a year now? What will he be looking for - dramatic relegation battle?

These nutters deserve Thaksin as the owner.

Thaksin is way out of his league there - he is no Abramovich, he is no Glaziers, he is no Al Fayed either. He just wants to be up there with the big boys. The fact is all of them bought clubs to supplement their main businesses, or simply for pleasure, while Thaksin is a nobody with nothing to show for himself apart from cash frozen in Thailand.

He is not up and coming business star, he is a "has been" that has ruined his life with his own hands.

[steveromagnino]

Thaksin is way out of his league there - .....

He is not up and coming business star, he is a "has been" that has ruined his life with his own hands.

So are you saying he is the 'Edgar Davids' of the business world?

or is it more like Gazza?

[Briggsy]

The only thing that is serious with this bid is Mr. Shinawatra's successful attempt to keep himself high-profile for positive reasons whilst deflecting attention from the "dull" charges of corruption laid against him and his family. Just how long has he managed to draw this one out without having to spend any money?

[sriracha john]

Ousted PM's bid for Manchester City's still on - UK media

Premier Leauge Manchester City's on-off Thai takeover is back on again with a 120 million pound offer expected by the end of the week, Manchester Evening News reported on Monday.

The Blues board, under intense pressure from concerned fans, is poised to set a deadline for ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's consortium to put up or shut up.

City directors have, it is understood, been assured by billionaire Thaksin's representatives that he still has enough funds available to buy the club, even though the Thai graft busters ordered freezing of his wealth.

The Thai government's bombshell decision put the takeover in jeopardy.

But after detailed discussions lasting almost three days, the talks, officially at an advanced stage, are now said to be "progressing well," the paper online said.

Supporters welcomed the fact that chief executive Alistair Mackintosh had been briefed to identify a replacement for sacked Stuart Pearce, with or without Thai approval.

But with the takeover now very much on again, Mackintosh is liaising with Shinawatra's advisers on the five-strong shortlist.

Key directors and shareholders, reportedly including ex-chairman Francis Lee, want to push on to lure United legend Mark Hughes from Blackburn.

But, though not ruling out Hughes, who is regarded as the best young manager in the Premiership, Thaksin wants to ensure the club explores the prospect of hiring the club's first non-British boss.

Sven-Goran Eriksson, 59, who has been out of management since his England World Cup mission ended in failure 12 months ago, has already thrown his hat in the ring.

He is seen in some influential quarters as the type of manager capable of creating a Kevin Keegan-style level of interest, attracting big-name players and boosting season ticket sales.

The paper said Thaksin's first choice, as revealed by M.E.N. Sport last month, was Claudio Ranieri. He opted to stay in Italy with Juventus, replacing Frenchman Didier Deschamps.

That put Deschamps in the frame for City, and Mackintosh has already flown to Paris to interview him. Graeme Souness who, like Hughes, lives locally was being touted as an early runner, but is not amongst the top five candidates.

- The Nation

[farangsay]

The only thing that is serious with this bid is Mr. Shinawatra's successful attempt to keep himself high-profile for positive reasons whilst deflecting attention from the "dull" charges of corruption laid against him and his family. Just how long has he managed to draw this one out without having to spend any money?

Another day or so from what I've read. Didn't ManC give him 72 hours to get serious?

<deleted> was it he quipped recently that he was looking for employment and football club president was too hard so he might become an academic?

Pretty soon the girl at McDonalds is going to want to see his cash before calling back his order.

[keebone]

Surely if Mr Thaksin wants to buy Manchester City he should be charged 2 - 20 times what an English person would have to pay for it. He should also not be able to actually own it but have to either put it in an English persons name or get it in a dodgy company name.

[farangsay]

Surely if Mr Thaksin wants to buy Manchester City he should be charged 2 - 20 times what an English person would have to pay for it. He should also not be able to actually own it but have to either put it in an English persons name or get it in a dodgy company name.

I'm sure if he could persuade whatsername to consent to a divorce there would be a queue of English girls who would own it for him and "love him long time" into the bargain.

[keebone]

Surely if Mr Thaksin wants to buy Manchester City he should be charged 2 - 20 times what an English person would have to pay for it. He should also not be able to actually own it but have to either put it in an English persons name or get it in a dodgy company name.

I'm sure if he could persuade whatsername to consent to a divorce there would be a queue of English girls who would own it for him and "love him long time" into the bargain.

Wonder how he'll feel about his English girl selling off players and giving the money to her English BF to buy motorbikes and go drinking and gambling

[sriracha john]

Eriksson back in City race

Thaksin Shinawatra is being urged by advisers to reconsider the claims of Sven-Goran Eriksson for the managerial vacancy at Manchester City if he successfully concludes his £105 million takeover bid for the club this week.

The former Thai prime minister is close to finalising a deal, despite having £830 million of his fortune frozen by Thailand's assets examination committee last week, and with No 1 target Claudio Ranieri having taken over at Juventus, Shinawatra's camp has split into rival groups for and against the former England coach.

Shinawatra gave City chief executive Alistair Mackintosh his approval last week of a short-list not including Eriksson, but while Mackintosh continues to pursue the Sevilla coach Juande Ramos, Eriksson's case is now being pushed strongly by members of Shinawatra's inner circle who believe that the Swede will attract leading players to the club.

- Telegraph (UK)

[Briggsy]

Eriksson back in City race

Thaksin Shinawatra is being urged by advisers to reconsider the claims of Sven-Goran Eriksson for the managerial vacancy at Manchester City if he successfully concludes his £105 million takeover bid for the club this week.

The former Thai prime minister is close to finalising a deal, despite having £830 million of his fortune frozen by Thailand's assets examination committee last week, and with No 1 target Claudio Ranieri having taken over at Juventus, Shinawatra's camp has split into rival groups for and against the former England coach.

Shinawatra gave City chief executive Alistair Mackintosh his approval last week of a short-list not including Eriksson, but while Mackintosh continues to pursue the Sevilla coach Juande Ramos, Eriksson's case is now being pushed strongly by members of Shinawatra's inner circle who believe that the Swede will attract leading players to the club.

- Telegraph (UK)

<deleted>??? Don't tell me he has cultivated his patron status whilst ensuring his magnates squabble amongst each other for the leftovers? Where the hel is a decent journalist when you need one???

[Majeed]

The Thai Government's desperate attempts to stop Shiniwatra's takeover of my club are bringing Thailand into disrepute.

They are hugely raising his profile and making him into a martyr. It's back-firing.

[chinthee]

The Thai Government's desperate attempts to stop Shiniwatra's takeover of my club are bringing Thailand into disrepute.

They are hugely raising his profile and making him into a martyr. It's back-firing.

Are you being paid 300 baht to say this?

[Majeed]

The Thai Government's desperate attempts to stop Shiniwatra's takeover of my club are bringing Thailand into disrepute.

They are hugely raising his profile and making him into a martyr. It's back-firing.

Are you being paid 300 baht to say this?

No it's it's called freedom of expression.

We don't have it here in Britain, and you certainly don't have it in Thailand

[Aujuba]

Seems like the 'in' thing to do for worldly tycoon's nowadays. If you ARE someone then you obviously have a sports team of your own. What other international exposure does he have? He wants to change his image from a short corrupt megalomanic leader to a British football team owner. Reporter:Do you miss Thailand? TS: I won't tell you again. I live in Hong Kong and I am Chinese. My wife, children and I are 100% purebred Chinese. Stop asking me stupid questions about Thailand.

I wonder if his image people Jim Baker sinister lobbyists are encouraging this purchase as part of his makeover.

Anyways if this goes through I'm sure he'll quickly earn the love of the locals over there. The nickname of the club is The Citizens or The Blues If Thaksin does buy the team they should go with something like 'The citizens got the blues.' But in the end as long as Mr.T is in England and not in the US, I'm happy. I'm so glad T-bird likes soccer and not baseball!

[coldcrush]

why cant he just save a seal or sponsor a charity like other over the edge people in the limelight do....

Edited June 19, 2007 by coldcrush

[sriracha john]

The Thai Government's desperate attempts to stop Shiniwatra's takeover of my club are bringing Thailand into disrepute.

They are hugely raising his profile and making him into a martyr. It's back-firing.

Are you being paid 300 baht to say this?

:D

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

And now.... more on the deal

City offer to end Eriksson's year in wilderness

Prospective new owner offers £50m transfer kitty

Sven-Goran Eriksson has been invited to relaunch his career with Manchester City after face-to-face talks with representatives of the club's prospective new owner, Thaksin Shinawatra.

Eriksson, out of work since the World Cup last year, has indicated that he is ready to return to football and sources close to the deal confirmed last night that he was now the "hot favourite" to be named as manager.

Eriksson met Thaksin's advisers yesterday, after an initial meeting in London on Sunday, and has been identified as the leading candidate once the former Thai prime minister's takeover is complete. A formal takeover offer is anticipated before the end of the week, possibly in the next 24 hours, and Thaksin's position does not appear to have been irreparably damaged by the current investigations into corruption and fraud from his time in government.

If, as expected, Thaksin takes control, the new regime expects to unveil Eriksson as the club's first non-British manager, having promised him about £50m in the transfer market. The talks are said to have gone well and the only potential stumbling block appears to be the Swede's wage demands.

Eriksson, who is still on the Football Association's payroll almost a year after stepping down as England's head coach, has always had a high opinion of his value and City will look elsewhere if he makes "ludicrous" demands.

Thaksin, whose personal fortune is estimated at £2bn, will be able to make Eriksson one of the highest-paid managers in the Premiership. A bigger problem, however, might be convincing City's supporters that Eriksson is the right man for the job. His professional reputation has been at a low ebb since the end of his reign with England and City's current board would not have entertained the idea of bringing him in but for Thaksin's intervention.

Inviting him to replace Stuart Pearce would constitute a huge gamble, particularly given the scale of the rebuilding job that is necessary, and the club's long-suffering fans are bound to be sceptical after his numerous failures in charge of the national team.

"The supporters are 70-30 against Eriksson," Heidi Pickup, of the Manchester City Supporters' Trust, said last night. "He has a good record at club level but you cannot ignore all his mistakes with England. You would also have to ask whether he still has what it takes at club level because it's been several years since he last worked as a club manager. Personally I would be disappointed. The whole situation smacks of desperation."

Privately the club's directors might sympathise with those remarks because there is strong opposition to Eriksson's appointment in the boardroom. Thaksin's advisers at the stockbrokers Seymour Pierce, led by the former Football League chairman Keith Harris, had initially identified the former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri, only for delays in the takeover process to allow Juventus to steal in ahead of them. The support for Ranieri within the City hierarchy was minimal, and Eriksson has even fewer admirers. To put it into context, he was the subject of ridicule only a few weeks ago.

Alistair Mackintosh, the club's chief executive, had been pinning his hopes on trying to tempt Juande Ramos away from Sevilla but it is a measure of how close Thaksin is to completing his takeover that the Thai now appears to have taken charge of the recruitment process. His determination to buy into English football has not diminished even though an anti-corruption committee in Thailand has frozen 28 of his bank accounts, worth £953m.

Thaksin, who was deposed as prime minister by a military junta last September, learned yesterday that he has been charged with concealing assets and has been ordered to return to Thailand by June 29 or face arrest.

He is currently in exile in London and has no intention of returning, his priority being to conclude his long-awaited takeover and then make Eriksson the club's 11th manager in 10 years. City return for pre-season training on July 4 and the club want confirmation from Eriksson as quickly as possible so that they can set about rebuilding the team for what promises to be a season of high intrigue.

- The Guardian (UK)

Edited June 20, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Thaksin Shinawatra

Manchester Evening News

Blues deal on despite Thai threat

THAKSIN Shinawatra is still expected to make a multi-million pound bid for Manchester City by the end of the week - even though he has been ordered to return to Thailand or face arrest.

The former Thai prime minister and his wife have been charged with concealing assets.

But sources close to Shinawatra, who is in advanced talks over a £120m takeover of the Blues, said that attacks on him by the military government are politically motivated and won't succeed in derailing his Blues bid.

The order to return to Thailand before June 29 or face arrest on charges of alleged corruption and abuse of power is the third attack on Shinawatra in a week. Twice the military government has told London-based exile Shinawatra that £1 billion of his assets will be frozen and now he and his wife have been charged.

But despite the new Thai threat a stock market announcement of a bid is widely expected before the weekend.

Shinawatra's representatives are liaising with the Blues board over the hunt for sacked Stuart Pearce's replacement with Shinawatra willing to give the new boss up to £50m to wheel and deal in the summer transfer market.

City's chief executive Alistair Mackintosh has narrowed down the shortlist to three. Mark Hughes, the United legend now at Blackburn has support in the boardroom, but ex-England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and Seville's highly-rated Juande Ramos are still in the frame.

- Manchester Evening News

[sriracha john]

SVEN'S CITY THAI-UP

Eriksson set to be named boss after second interview with Shinawatra

SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON is on the brink of accepting the Manchester City manager's job after having a second interview yesterday.

The former England boss was first interviewed on Sunday by representatives of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Thai prime minister planning a £150 million takeover of City.

Eriksson had talks in London yesterday with Keith Harris, the football finance expert from Seymour Pierce, the company brokering the takeover deal on behalf of Shinawatra, and was told the job was his if he wants it.

The Swede has made no secret of his desire to return to football with City, but his controversial appointment is dependent on Shinawatra's protracted and crisis-hit takeover bid going ahead.

But the revelation that Eriksson is now the front-runner for the City job has not gone down well with the club's loyal fans, 13,000 of whom have voiced their discontent at the current situation by refusing to renew season tickets.

There is also opposition to Eriksson's appointment within the City boardroom.

And Heidi Pickup, of the Manchester City Supporters' Trust, claimed his arrival at the club would be a backward step.

She said: "I would be disappointed with Eriksson. "There is a split among supporters, 70-30 against him. He has a good record at club level with Lazio and Sampdoria, but you can't ignore his mistakes with England.

"You have to ask whether he still has what it takes at club level, bearing in mind he has not been a club manager for several years. The whole thing smacks of desperation."

Eriksson has not worked since quitting as England boss in the wake of last summer's failed World Cup campaign after five years in the job.

But with Shinawatra's on-off takeover of City still in the balance, the Swede's appointment is far from assured.

Shinawatra has already had more than £1 billion of his assets frozen by the Thai military government, and his plans were dealt another huge blow yesterday when he was ordered to return to his homeland or face arrest.

Thai police have ordered the exiled leader, under investigation for alleged corruption and abuse of power and currently living in London, to return to Thailand by June 29 or face arrest.

Shinawatra, ousted as prime minister in a coup last September, must prove his huge fortune was earned legally. The committee investigating will then refer its findings to Thailand's courts of justice.

The Premier League is monitoring Shinawatra's proposed takeover, as the corruption charges against him may have serious implications for City if they are proven.

- The Mirror (UK)

Edited June 20, 2007 by sriracha john

[jayjayjayjay]

The Premier League is monitoring Shinawatra's proposed takeover, as the corruption charges against him may have serious implications for City if they are proven.

- The Mirror (UK)

Shows you the power the Junta yield now. Once they new of the Premier League's clause for clean owners, it took the Junta only two weeks to turn this into charges and freezing of assets. This has got to end up in bloodshed. In Bkk for a rare visit on Monday/Tuesday I made it a point to ask every Taxi driver what they really though of Taksin and what the CNS are doing. All I can say is that Thailand could never be closer to a civil war than it is right now.

[sriracha john]

City takeover timeline

FORMER Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is closing in on his takeover of Manchester City.

There have been many twists and turns in the saga so far, including Claudio Ranieri's decision to join Juventus, the freezing of £1.3b of Thaksin's assets, and the recent emergence of Sven Goran-Eriksson as a managerial candidate.

Here is a timeline of the story so far:

April 23 - Former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who previously made an unsuccessful bid for Liverpool, makes his first move for Manchester City according to pro-Thaksin website - hi-thaksin.net.

April 25 - The takeover saga took a new twist with the Blues blasting back at Ray Ranson's 'indicative offer' as they unveiled one of the 'mystery' Americans. In a statement to the Stock Exchange, City confirmed that they have received two offers from Ranson, though they say neither is for £90m.

April 30 - City prepare for a fresh bid from Thaksin that would take the cost of any total takeover to more than £100m.

May 1 - Thaksin moves into pole position to buy City after he is granted access to the club’s accounts.

May 15 - Thaksin is given a whistle-stop tour of the Eastlands Stadium the day Stuart Pearce is sacked.

May 19 - City remain in talks with 'a number' of different parties over a potential buyout, although talks between Shinawatra and the Blues are at an 'advanced stage'. As yet there is no bid.

May 25 - Thaksin claims to hope to have sealed his City takeover by early June. "Everything is going smoothly," Thaksin's lawyer Noppadon Pattama says.

May 30 - Thaksin's Thai consortium are pulling the strings ahead of the potential takeover by reportedly holding talks with Claudio Ranieri.

June 4 - Ranieri is appointed manager of Juventus, dashing City's hopes of landing the ex-Chelsea man.

June 7 - Thaksin's lawyer is confident of a deal being concluded with City about the proposed takeover. "So far I learn that the deal is proceeding well," Nopaddon Pattama told AFP.

June 11 - Thaksin has £830million of h is assets frozen in a move partly related to the sale of his telecommunications company Shin Corp last year. City seek an explanation.

June 12 - City step up their efforts to replace sacked boss Stuart Pearce - a clear indication that the Thai takeover is in jeopardy.

June 14 - Thaksin's lawyer insists that there are still funds available to buy City. "We have money to buy Manchester City, and the signs from the club in the latest negotiations are good," Pattama said.

June 18 - Thaksin, the would-be owner of Manchester City, has a further £123m frozen by authorities in Thailand.

June 19 - Thaksin is ordered to return to Thailand or face arrest after being charged with concealing assets. However he is still expected to make a bid for the Blues.

June 20 - Thaksin £120m bid for Manchester City is 'imminent' - and Sven-Goran Eriksson is in the frame to be named as the club's new manager. Sources close to Shinawatra say the freezing of another £310m will not derail the bid.

- Manchester Evening News

[Briggsy]

Still hasn't put his money where his mouth is, surprise surprise. However, the daft press, and the BBC at that, is still willing to put his story front and centre on its sports page.

How much longer can this master of manipulation spin this out for? I think the folks in England have forgotten that gargantuan liars do exist in the world. They've got sloppy again having now forgotten Captain Bob.

Thaksin didn't buy Fulham, didn't buy Liverpool and won't buy Man City. But he'll sure get a huge bucketload of positive publicity ostensibly aimed at the working class Thai electorate a large number of whom love English football.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin prepares to stamp his authority

Thaksin Shinawatra is expected to make a long-awaited formal bid for Manchester City within the next 48 hours, by which time he is confident that Sven-Göran Eriksson, the former England head coach, will have agreed to become the club’s new manager.

Eriksson was offered the post during talks with Keith Harris, the former chairman of the Football League and Thaksin’s influential adviser, on Sunday and Tuesday in London and the former Benfica and Lazio manager has been promised a transfer kitty of up to £50 million if the takeover proceeds as planned.

The fact that Eriksson is still on the FA’s payroll, almost a year after stepping down as England head coach, will not prevent him requesting at least £3 million a year, although Thaksin appears willing to meet the Swede’s demands.

Eriksson was rumoured to be canvassing for jobs in Spain yesterday, but it is thought that he has come to accept that City represents his only real route back into club management.

Eriksson, who turns 60 next year, would be the second former England manager at City in the past six years — Kevin Keegan held the post between 2001 and 2005 — and news of his impending appointment has prompted a mixed reaction among supporters. Many were unimpressed with Eriksson during his 5½ year tenure with England, even if his stock has been boosted by the failings of Steve McClaren, his successor, while the Swede’s off-the-field indiscretions and the fact that he has not managed at club level for six years are further grounds for concern.

Similarly, there are figures on the City board who appear to be lukewarm to the idea of Eriksson being in charge, the prospect of which had invited ridicule among Thaksin’s advisers only a few weeks ago, when Claudio Ranieri was the favourite to succeed Stuart Pearce before the Italian's appointment at Juventus.

Alistair Mackintosh, the City chief executive, and others are known to favour Juande Ramos and have been pursuing their own lines of inquiry on that front, although the Seville coach, who will not make a decision on his future until after the Spanish Cup final on Saturday, looks increasingly likely to stay in Spain.

Nonetheless, there is an acceptance that if Thaksin’s £90 million takeover succeeds, the former Prime Minister of Thailand, who has an estimated fortune of £2 billion, has every right to appoint who he pleases.

- Times Online (UK)

[sriracha john]

England national soccer team coach Sven Goran Eriksson grimaces as he takes his seat for the final draw for the 2006 World Cup in Leipzig, Germany, in this Friday Dec. 9, 2005 file photo. Eriksson could take over as manager of Manchester City if ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra buys the team.

Associated Press

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

Looks like he has the right temperament to work with Thaksin:

[sriracha john]

Manchester City to become Shin City : the Sun

Premier League Manchester City will become "Shin City" on Thursday as the club's five major shareholders have agreed to sell their 66 per cent to deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Sun tabloid reported.

However London-based the Sun said the takeover Thaksin's takeover could still be vetoed if the Premier League decide he does not pass their Right and Proper Persons Test.

Every board member or controlling shareholder of a Premier League club must sign a "director's declaration" stating whether he or she has convictions for fraud, theft, corruption or associated offences.

Clubs with a director carrying such convictions are debarred from competing in the league until the association with the individual is terminated.

Thaksin is wanted back in Thailand on charges of corruption and abuse of power. Thai graft busters have ordered freezing of Bt58 billion of his assets.

The Sun reported that Thaksin has assured City the money is there for him to fulfil his dream of bringing success to Eastlands.

- The Nation

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

Ex-Thai prem set for Prem

MANCHESTER CITY will become Shin City today as it falls into the hands of a former Thai Prime Minister.

City’s five major shareholders have agreed to sell their 66 per cent to Thaksin Shinawatra.

But last night there were fears the £108 million takeover could open another chapter of chaos at the club.

Shinawatra’s takeover could still be vetoed if the Premier League decide he does not pass their Right and Proper Persons Test.

He is wanted back in Thailand on charges of corruption and abuse of power and the Thai government yesterday froze £310million of his assets.

That comes after he had £800m in 21 Thai bank accounts seized.

But Shinawatra, overthrown in a bloodless military coup last September, still has a further £1billion fortune — and he has assured City the money is there for him to fulfil his dream of bringing success to Eastlands.

City fans are unhappy at the prospect of ex-England boss Sven Goran Eriksson being appointed.

One website poll showed 80 per cent did not want him and Dave Wallace, editor of the King of the Kippax fanzine, said: “The board have a lot to answer for.

"Although Eriksson was a good club manager 10 years ago, he’s damaged goods after what he did with England.”

Eriksson would command £2m-a-year wages — significantly more than the £750,000 paid to axed Stuart Pearce

City currently have just 22,000 season-ticket holders for their 48,000- capacity stadium.

And ex-hero Peter Barnes said: “I am not bothered who owns the club as long as he has the money and passion, but we have to get the right manager.

“They must get the right man in. The football was so boring last season.

“We don’t need a foreign coach who is just going to spend all the money and use the club as a stepping stone. If I had a choice between Sven and Mark Hughes I know who I’d go for.”

Glyn Pardoe, who scored City’s 1970 League Cup final winner, said: “I wouldn’t be too keen on Eriksson because his record suggests he is dour.”

- The Sun (UK)

Edited June 21, 2007 by sriracha john

[tijnebijn]

And the soap opera goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on ......

[marshbags]

Part quote from an article via CNN twenty two minutes ago on the following url:-

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/football...ksin/index.html

Quote

"Significant progress"

Wardle said: "Following our significant progress over the last few years, this offer provides an exciting opportunity to take Manchester City to the next stage of our development and deliver the on-field success we have all been striving for."

It is not the first time Thaksin has been associated with a Premier League club, having been linked with a deal to take control of Merseyside giants Liverpool while still in charge of his football-mad country.

But before the City takeover is completed, Thaksin may have to face a 'fit and proper person' test.

Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson told BBC Radio Five Live: "We have a fit and proper person test which is based on objective criteria, there is a schedule of offences which does also reflect any offences that someone has been prosecuted for overseas as well.

"It is a tricky one because he hasn't been prosecuted of anything yet, and also we are a football competition.

He has now got a date with the supreme court on the 10th of July and a delay at the very least until this date is in order, Dan Johnson, so let,s see if you have the standards fit for such an establishment as the Premier League that have long since been neglected, missing and forgotten.... and the B###S to intervene and do the necessaries ????

"We sit in a hierarchy of regulation and if the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), the Government, say this guy is okay to come in and purchase UK companies then that is really where we've got to be starting."

If Thaksin's bid is cleared, one of the first tasks of the new City regime will be to find a replacement for sacked manager Stuart Pearce.

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has been linked with the job, but on Wednesday his agent denied there had been a formal approach.

marshbags and a definite yellow card followed by a is the only requisite IMHO

Edited June 21, 2007 by marshbags

[sriracha john]

Manchester City accepts Thaksin's Bt5.6 billion offer

A formal bid of 81.6 million pounds from former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been accepted by Manchester City, according to inthenews online.

The offer values each of the club's shares at 40p, making the issued share capital worth just under 22 million pounds, and takes account of the 60 million pounds debts of the Eastlands outfit.

The board of Manchester City has recommended that shareholders accept the offer, which would then need to be ratified by the Premier League before it is allowed to go through.

Such a final offer comes after several weeks of negotiations between the club and UK Sports Investments - the holding company indirectly controlled by Dr Thaksin and his son and daughter.

Commenting on the offer, Dr Thaksin said: "I am delighted that the board of Manchester City has recommended my bid for the club and I look forward to continuing the excellent work of [City chairman] John Wardle and his team.

"We share a determination to take the club back to its rightful place at the highest level of competition in both the FA Premier League and European football.

"I am in no doubt of the responsibility associated with leading Manchester City and pledge to the fans, players and staff my utmost commitment to the future success of this great club."

Mr Wardle, who will be replaced as chairman of the club if Dr Thaksin's offer is successful, described the prospective new era as "an exciting opportunity to take Manchester City to the next stage of our development and deliver the on-field success we have all been striving for".

Along with chief executive Alistair Mackintosh, Mr Wardle will remain on the board to oversee the future developments under a new manager after former boss Stuart Pearce left the club at the end of last season.

"I am equally as pleased that the management team, who have worked relentlessly during my time as chairman to bring about success off the field, will also remain," Mr Wardle added.

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is apparently the leading contender to take charge of Manchester City, despite denying any contact with the former Thai prime minister to date.

- The Nation