Thaksin Completes Man City Buyout

[petedk]

Perhaps he can get UK citizenship now and stay there permanently....

Thaksin makes rich list debut

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has made his debut in the list of the North West’s richest people.

The Sunday Times Rich List estimates his wealth at £640 million *40,391,145,019 Baht*, making him the region’s joint seventh richest person alongside Fred and Peter Done, whose wealth has increased from £290 million in 2007. This makes them joint 129th richest in Britain and Ireland, according to the list.

- Crain's Manchester Business / 28-04-08

At the beginning of this thread people were discussing how Thaksin managed to get 81 million pounds!!!!

Just how much money does this guy have???

[Plus]

Perhaps they counted his frozen funds. Even if he can't use them, they are still in his name.

If it's something else, he might have to explain it in Thailand - he filled several legally binding asset declaration reports.

>>>

Apparently Thaksin and Sven had met over the weekend and Thaksin confirmed his commitment to the club, but didn't say how much would be available in the summer.

There are some Thai language news that he intends to keep Sven, too.

It would probably be cheaper in the end, anyway.

[sriracha john]

Perhaps he can get UK citizenship now and stay there permanently....

Thaksin makes rich list debut

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has made his debut in the list of the North West’s richest people.

The Sunday Times Rich List estimates his wealth at £640 million *40,391,145,019 Baht*, making him the region’s joint seventh richest person alongside Fred and Peter Done, whose wealth has increased from £290 million in 2007. This makes them joint 129th richest in Britain and Ireland, according to the list.

- Crain's Manchester Business / 28-04-08

At the beginning of this thread people were discussing how Thaksin managed to get 81 million pounds!!!!

Just how much money does this guy have???

More than the 40 Billion the Manchester folks know about...

He is at the top.... the very top.

Thaksin's true wealth has been evaluated as high as 200 Billion Baht, making him the richest person in Thailand.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=1418738

[Tony Clifton]

Perhaps he can get UK citizenship now and stay there permanently....

Thaksin makes rich list debut

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has made his debut in the list of the North West’s richest people.

The Sunday Times Rich List estimates his wealth at £640 million *40,391,145,019 Baht*, making him the region’s joint seventh richest person alongside Fred and Peter Done, whose wealth has increased from £290 million in 2007. This makes them joint 129th richest in Britain and Ireland, according to the list.

- Crain's Manchester Business / 28-04-08

I guess their 'Fit and Proper Person' test is as meaningless as the Premier League's.

Perhaps he can get UK citizenship now and stay there permanently....

Thaksin makes rich list debut

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has made his debut in the list of the North West’s richest people.

The Sunday Times Rich List estimates his wealth at £640 million *40,391,145,019 Baht*, making him the region’s joint seventh richest person alongside Fred and Peter Done, whose wealth has increased from £290 million in 2007. This makes them joint 129th richest in Britain and Ireland, according to the list.

- Crain's Manchester Business / 28-04-08

At the beginning of this thread people were discussing how Thaksin managed to get 81 million pounds!!!!

Just how much money does has this guy have illegally taken out of Thailand and stashed abroad???

[sriracha john]

The unsurprising and inevitable bust up...

Eriksson: I'm getting the boot

SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON will be axed as Manchester City boss at the end of the season — after an explosive bust-up with owner Thaksin Shinawatra.

The shocked Swede called a meeting of all his staff at the Carrington Training Complex yesterday to drop the bombshell. A City insider said: “It was a very unpleasant meeting between Sven and the owner. Shinawatra wants control of everything and that is not the way that Eriksson works.”

In an amazing show of fury the normally mild- mannered former England boss tore into Shinawatra for publicly criticising the team’s performance and his own abilities. Eriksson told the owner his comments were disgraceful and argued if he had anything to say he should do so in private.

But Shinawatra has become so power-crazy at City he wants the final word on everyone who comes in or out — and even wants to pick the team. Eriksson has it in his contract that decisions on which players to buy are his call. Shinawatra, though, is determined to change that and as Eriksson will not comply he will find a manager who will.

Eriksson signed a three-year deal worth 2.5 million pounds a year when he joined City last July. And he will only go when Shinawatra fires him with a multi-million pound compensation package. The Eastlands insider added: “Sven was very angry about being attacked in public and let his feelings be known. Sven doesn’t lose his cool very often and was really upset.

“Shinawatra expects the manager to do what he says no questions asked and if he decides a player should be in the team the boss should accept it. "But Sven won’t agree with that. How many top managers would?"

Former Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra wants a big name from abroad to take Eriksson’s place — but that will not go down well with the fans. City have had their best season for years, are guaranteed a top-half finish and did the double over rivals Manchester United.

Eriksson told his shocked City stars that he is going to be sacked in the summer. He revealed he will be chopped after their last two league games. A number of senior players stood up to pledge their support for Eriksson. One eyewitness said: “Everyone was totally shocked. The players have all taken to Sven and enjoy his methods. “It seems ridiculous after what has been an excellent season.”

- The Sun (today)

[sriracha john]

SVEN: I'M FINISHED

Eriksson believes he has no future under Shinawatra

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON has confided to friends and confidantes that he is out as Manchester City manager after just one season.

Former England coach Eriksson has painted a picture of crisis and financial chaos within the club, and has already told his trusted friends he will be sacked.

One of Eriksson’s associates told me: “Sven pulled out of a big-money transfer today and has explained that everything is on hold at the club, and he meant everything.

"The owner’s money is frozen, and he doesn’t know if he will be around next season."

Another close friend told me: "Sven does not think he will stay. He’s resigned to going. The owner is unhappy with results, and Sven knows he is on his way."

- Daily News (today)

[Sandstone Art]

Is this another publicity stunt for Toxin?

Saw this flag in the Nation website. Someone wrote Thaksin's name on it. Isn't that some kind of vadalism? Hope that some good lawyers can comment!

[Plus]

You've got to be kidding!

Re. sacking Sven.

[mrtoad]

It all looks ratehr inevitable, althougth the Daily Express here in BKK, said that the meeting between Toxin and SGE was "cordial".

In the end Toxin is power crazy, and is used to getting things his own way, the EPL is not a place where he can bully, bribe and posture his way to the top. He has always been use4d to being popular in Thailand, but I think he's going to find out very quickly how unforgiving British football fans can be, when they see their club being used in this way.

[ratcatcher]

Courtesy BBC April 29 2008

Eriksson will not quit Man City

Sven-Goran Eriksson

Eriksson had a flying start to life with City

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson says he will not walk away from the club.

Eriksson held talks with owner Thaksin Shinawatra over the weekend that were described as "cordial".

Newspaper reports on Tuesday claimed ex-England coach Eriksson would not be around for a second season in charge of the club.

But his agent Athole Still said: "There is no way he will quit after the successful job he has done."

City released a short statement saying: "Sven-Goran Eriksson has confirmed that he has no plans to leave the club. He will be at Carrington to take training as normal."

Eriksson enjoyed a successful start to his managerial spell at City but the club has endured a difficult second half to the season, sparking rumours he might not be kept on.

At the start of the season we were playing exciting football and making new friends

Thaksin Shinawatra

But City defender Michael Ball, who captained the side against Fulham at the weekend, said the squad are fully behind the manager.

Ball said: "Every player is 100% behind him. We like his methods, the way he trains, the way he goes about his tactics.

"If the club wants to go forward we have got to keep the coaching staff and obviously add a few more players."

Eriksson and Thaksin met for discussions at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester and had further talks before a dinner held in honour of City's FA Youth Cup-winning side at the weekend.

On Saturday Thaksin was at Eastlands to see City throw away a two-goal lead at home to Fulham in a 3-2 defeat that almost certainly ends their hopes of a place in the Intertoto Cup.

Eriksson said: "We had a lot of defenders injured, so the backline was completely new but we didn't lose to Fulham just because of that. We lost because our attitude in the last 20 minutes to defending throughout went away.

"At the end of the game we had four, five players up the field like strikers and not even walking back, that's not acceptable. Adding to that, we had a new back four so we will have to learn the lesson.

While doubts remain over Eriksson's future with the club, Thaksin says he is at the club to stay.

"I want to keep the club long-term," he said. "It will remain private and I want to hold it for life. ([/color

"'Cos it's mine, all mine and nobody else is gonna have it, so there." That's commitment!

"I see the club as always growing and growing beyond the city of Manchester. Beyond England, the world.

The Premier League is a global brand, so if we are in the Uefa Cup or Champions League it will mean we will go beyond Manchester."

Thaksin, who brought the former England boss to Eastlands, recently said he would conduct a review at the end of the season before deciding on how best to go forward.

He spoke in glowing terms about City's bright start to the campaign, without hinting as to whether Eriksson has a future at the club.

"I felt very optimistic after I got Sven-Goran Eriksson as coach," he said. "We also got some new players and even though it was quite heavy on my pocket, I was very confident the club would be moving forward.

"At the start of the season we were playing exciting football and making new friends. I like that style and the way Sven was training them, the way the team came together and the way they played football."

The owner pinpointed "a striker, a midfielder and a defender" as requirements for them to go forward, while Eriksson would only suggest they need "something" to help City into the top six next season.

Of course, the owner would know, wouldn't he? Never mind the manager what the hill does he know?

[Plus]

First group of results from Google News, I can't be arsed to link them all properly, not the point:

"Sven Goran Eriksson excpects to be sacked from Man City job

Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - 4 hours ago

SVEN Goran Eriksson expects to be sacked as manager of Manchester City after a bust-up with the club's Thai owner, according to reports in Britain today. ...

Eriksson starts preparing for exit from City guardian.co.uk

Sven Goran Eriksson ready to leave Man City Telegraph.co.uk

Sven Resigned To City Exit Goal.com"

[sriracha john]

Is this another publicity stunt for Toxin?

Saw this flag in the Nation website. Someone wrote Thaksin's name on it. Isn't that some kind of vadalism? Hope that some good lawyers can comment!

Thaksin's lawyer Noppadope has some good comments. He's not very good, but will he do???

Foriegn Affairs Minister: Thaksin Not Involved in National Flag with His Name

The Foreign Affairs Minister believes former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has no involvement with the controversial national flag with his name displayed on it during a Manchester City game.

Foreign Affairs Minister Noppadon Patthama says he has yet to be informed about a giant Thai national flag with the name of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on it, displayed at the City of Manchester City Stadium during a recent English Premier League match of Manchester City Football Club, owned by the former Thai premier.

Noppadon says the display of the controversial national flag likely has no involvement with Thaksin , though he was found to be watching the game at the stadium.

However, the minister says if the Thai people are displeased with the matter, he is ready to ask for clarification from the club.

Meanwhile, an English newspaper, The Sun, has reported that the Swedish manager of Manchester City Football Club, Sven Goran Eriksson, could be dismissed after this season due to the team's recent poor performance.

The Sun quoted a club insider as saying that the recent meeting between Eriksson and Thaksin at the Carrington training ground was unpleasant.

Meanwhile, an onlooker at the training camp saw Eriksson speaking to his players about his leave this summer, but they still want the Swedish manager to stay in charge.

- Thailand Outlook (today)

[Plus]

Top news have been updated:

Eriksson clinging on at Manchester City

AFP - 54 minutes ago

LONDON (AFP) — Sven-Goran Eriksson is determined to stay on as manager of Manchester City, his agent has said, despite indications that he could be facing ...

Manchester City coach to face the axe by Thaksin Bangkok Post

Eriksson will not quit Man City BBC Sport

Sven Goran Eriksson excpects to be sacked from Man City job Melbourne Herald Sun

Looks like everyone at Man City is in a full blown disaster management mode.

Imagine Sven slamming the door and talking about financial chaos at the club in public.

On the other hand it might be a good chance for Scholari to get his foot in the door. He's probably been dreaming about finally getting a chance to fight for a place in the UEFA cup. He'd been stuck witho those Portugese for too long, from Euro to World Cup and back, now it's time to prove his worth to mighty Thaksin.

[sriracha john]

FM: Thaksin 'uninvolved' in Manchester flag controversy

The Foreign Ministry is preparing to ask for more information on an incident in which Thailand’s national flag was seen emblazoned with former PM Thaksin’s name at a Premier League match in Manchester, England. Thaksin is a major shareholder and Chairman of Manchester City Football Club. Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama was quick to distance Thaksin from the incident and suggested it may have been the work of someone who "just didn’t know any better." “We are willing to investigate any issue deemed as offensive to the Thai people and will ask for more

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=127372

[mrtoad]

Eriksson to be sacked by Man City

By Simon Austin BBC

Sven-Goran Eriksson has been told he will be sacked as Manchester City manager at the end of the season, BBC Sport understands.

City owner Thaksin Shinawatra told Eriksson he was "not the right man for the job" at a meeting on Sunday, a source close to the manager said.

Eriksson informed the players at training on Monday that he would be dismissed, provoking an angry response.

The Swede, who has two years left on his contract, says he will not resign.

Shinawatra has been unhappy with City's results since the turn of the year.

The Thai billionaire was at the City of Manchester Stadium on Sunday to watch his team throw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 against Fulham.

606: DEBATE

It's absolutely crazy - I'm shocked

rommy123

Afterwards, he held a meeting with Eriksson and told him he would be dismissed after their final two games of the season.

"Sven reacted calmly, as usual, but he was very surprised and disappointed," the source told BBC Sport.

"He doesn't want to leave the club and will not resign. He loves working with the players and his work at Manchester City has only just begun."

The club is refusing to comment about Eriksson's future.

Eriksson took over as City manager five weeks before the start of the season and the team occupied third spot in the Premiership in November.

However, their form has faltered badly since Christmas and they now lie ninth, having won just four of their last 15 games.

"The team has not been playing as well as it should have or getting the right results since Christmas," said the source.

"But overall it has been a good season. Thaksin agreed a five-year plan with Sven in the summer and the target for the first year was to finish in the top 10."

I think it is crazy that his job is even being talked about as being in danger - he has been good for everyone at City

Micah Richards

Shinawatra bankrolled eight summer signings at a cost of more than £46m shortly after buying the club, but BBC Sport understands he has had no direct contact with Eriksson in the second half of the season.

"They met several times personally at the start of the season and then nothing," said the source.

"Sven has had a list of players he wants to sign next summer for several weeks, but he hasn't been able to get the go-ahead to get them.

"He talks to (City chief executive) Alistair Macintosh, but things break down when he then goes to the chairman."

The City players are understood to have reacted with a mixture of shock and anger when Eriksson told them he would be leaving.

Last week, City defender Micah Richards said the players were "100% behind" Eriksson in his BBC Sport website column.

"I think it is crazy that his job is even being talked about as being in danger - he has been good for everyone at City," said Richards.

Shinawatra will now set about the task of landing a new manager, with former Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari already touted as a replacement for Eriksson.

It seems certain that any new manager will have a considerable amount of money to spend in the summer.

Shinawatra has hundreds of millions of pounds worth of assets in Thailand frozen as he awaits trial on corruption charges later this year.

Yet his former lawyer, Noppadom Pattama, who is now Thailand's foreign minister, told BBC Sport that he expected these assets to be "unfrozen in the near future".

As suspected it's all going to end in tears. Mr Happy Toilet could be in contention for a new position at City.

[sriracha john]

Samak calling Thaksin on the carpet???

PM Calls For Clarification from Thaksin on National Flag with His Name

The prime minister has advised the former premier, Thaksin Shinnawatra, to explain to the public the national flag with his name displayed on it at the stadium of Manchester Football Club.

Prime Minister and Defence Minister Samak Sunthornravej says the display of national flag with Thaksin Shinnawatra's name on it at the English Premier League's match day of Manchester City Football Club is inappropriate.

Samak also urged the former prime minister to explain the matter to the Thai people when he returns to the country.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Secretary General of the Democrat Party, Thepthai Senpong, says the former Thai leader should not ask the club's football fans to display such a controversial national flag.

- Thailand Outlook (today)

[Ricardo]

Eriksson to be sacked by Man City

By Simon Austin BBC

Sven-Goran Eriksson has been told he will be sacked as Manchester City manager at the end of the season, BBC Sport understands.

City owner Thaksin Shinawatra told Eriksson he was "not the right man for the job" at a meeting on Sunday, a source close to the manager said.

Eriksson informed the players at training on Monday that he would be dismissed, provoking an angry response.

The Swede, who has two years left on his contract, says he will not resign.

Shinawatra has been unhappy with City's results since the turn of the year.

I thought myself that Sven had done quite well, for his first year in the job, this is more a reflection on the owner, who doesn't seem to understand fully the business he has purchased, and perhaps suffers also from foot-in-mouth disease.

...

Shinawatra will now set about the task of landing a new manager, with former Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari already touted as a replacement for Eriksson.

"Hire and Fire" may be less easy, for professional team-managers, than he believes. The UK isn't Thailand, being a poo-yai counts for less there, and Sven is likely to want a serious pay-off.

It seems certain that any new manager will have a considerable amount of money to spend in the summer.

Shinawatra has hundreds of millions of pounds worth of assets in Thailand frozen as he awaits trial on corruption charges later this year.

Yet his former lawyer, Noppadom Pattama, who is now Thailand's foreign minister, told BBC Sport that he expected these assets to be "unfrozen in the near future".

What on earth is the country's Foreign Minister, who has officially quit his role as Thaksin's lawyer & spokesman, doing commenting on the outcome of legal cases in which he is no-longer involved ? Doesn't he remember that his PPP party-leader, now also PM, Samak had promised there would be absolutely no government-interference in the outcome of these several cases ? Perhaps it is time for Noppadope to reconsider his position in the government.

[plachon]

It was just on the One O'clock news that Thaksin is going to sack Sven in the summer. Don't know why he announces it so well in advance (maybe he thinks it's like a Thai police "crackdown" on shoddy managers?) or why Sven will wait around for his marching orders, but there you go, it's out in the open now.

Doesn't look like the fans will be pleased, but it can't help thinking serves them right for taking Toxin's dirty money in the first place. As several have said earlier in this thread, it may just have been better to be clean, proud and humble than rich, elevated in the league, but tainted by dirt and blood money.

What the journos don't seem to be speculating on though, is that the Toxin-Sven public falling out is less to do with Man City's results and more to do with Sven refusing to dance to his boss's fiddle. By this I mean, Man City has always been less about football to it's new owner than about being a Special Purpose Vehicle (in Toxin parlance) for Mr T to make political capital in Thailand. But to Sven it was about footie and taking home a healthy fat paycheck. It is almost inconceivable that Toxin didn't try to put pressure on Sven to accompany him to Thailand and capitalise on the face that would bring. Sven I'd imagine was non-plussed about this Asian face biz and refused to go, thus angering his boss who'd no doubt been making plans for ages about a glorious homecoming with Sven in tow.

Now Toxin's comeback plans are looking less certain daily and he's getting desperate, looking for scapegoats for his own failings. After all, he's used to sycophantic toadies on his payroll, like Noppadope et al, so when his highest paid staff doesn't do as he's told, then it's bound to end in tears, as the politicos predicted months back. Seems like the fans really were blinded by their passion and didn't see the baby was going to be thrown out with the bathwater when they took on this monster from afar.

[mrtoad]

It's quite clear that Noppadol has a conflict of interests regarding his current government position, and also acting as Toxins spokesperson in this particular issue. I do not understand how he can say, that thos assets are going to be unfrozen, although I think we all know that the current gov is just a smokescreen for the little puppet master.

Samak is still trying to act tough and abrasive, but he's done bugger all so far and it's all set up for Toxin to make his move when he see's fit.

I'm sure the Man City fans are now starting to realise what happens when you deal with the devil.

[Sandstone Art]

Is this another publicity stunt for Toxin?

Saw this flag in the Nation website. Someone wrote Thaksin's name on it. Isn't that some kind of vadalism? Hope that some good lawyers can comment!

Thaksin's lawyer Noppadope has some good comments. He's not very good, but will he do???

Foriegn Affairs Minister: Thaksin Not Involved in National Flag with His Name

The Foreign Affairs Minister believes former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has no involvement with the controversial national flag with his name displayed on it during a Manchester City game.

Foreign Affairs Minister Noppadon Patthama says he has yet to be informed about a giant Thai national flag with the name of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on it, displayed at the City of Manchester City Stadium during a recent English Premier League match of Manchester City Football Club, owned by the former Thai premier.

Noppadon says the display of the controversial national flag likely has no involvement with Thaksin , though he was found to be watching the game at the stadium.

However, the minister says if the Thai people are displeased with the matter, he is ready to ask for clarification from the club.

Meanwhile, an English newspaper, The Sun, has reported that the Swedish manager of Manchester City Football Club, Sven Goran Eriksson, could be dismissed after this season due to the team's recent poor performance.

The Sun quoted a club insider as saying that the recent meeting between Eriksson and Thaksin at the Carrington training ground was unpleasant.

Meanwhile, an onlooker at the training camp saw Eriksson speaking to his players about his leave this summer, but they still want the Swedish manager to stay in charge.

- Thailand Outlook (today)

Thanks sriracha john.

Looks like Toxin gets all the attention that he is seeking right now. This shows WHO is the BOSS when so many ministers running out to defend / 'explain' such an act!

[Mobi]

Is this another publicity stunt for Toxin?

Saw this flag in the Nation website. Someone wrote Thaksin's name on it. Isn't that some kind of vadalism? Hope that some good lawyers can comment!

Thaksin's lawyer Noppadope has some good comments. He's not very good, but will he do???

Foriegn Affairs Minister: Thaksin Not Involved in National Flag with His Name

The Foreign Affairs Minister believes former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has no involvement with the controversial national flag with his name displayed on it during a Manchester City game.

Foreign Affairs Minister Noppadon Patthama says he has yet to be informed about a giant Thai national flag with the name of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on it, displayed at the City of Manchester City Stadium during a recent English Premier League match of Manchester City Football Club, owned by the former Thai premier.

Noppadon says the display of the controversial national flag likely has no involvement with Thaksin , though he was found to be watching the game at the stadium.

However, the minister says if the Thai people are displeased with the matter, he is ready to ask for clarification from the club.

Meanwhile, an English newspaper, The Sun, has reported that the Swedish manager of Manchester City Football Club, Sven Goran Eriksson, could be dismissed after this season due to the team's recent poor performance.

The Sun quoted a club insider as saying that the recent meeting between Eriksson and Thaksin at the Carrington training ground was unpleasant.

Meanwhile, an onlooker at the training camp saw Eriksson speaking to his players about his leave this summer, but they still want the Swedish manager to stay in charge.

- Thailand Outlook (today)

Thanks sriracha john.

Looks like Toxin gets all the attention that he is seeking right now. This shows WHO is the BOSS when so many ministers running out to defend / 'explain' such an act!

None of all this surprises me in the slightest. It was all bound to happen sooner or later, and the fate of Sven was cast the minute he signed up for his mega salary.

I have some sympathy for Man City supporters, but if they did their homework they would have realized that it would all end in tears.

It seems to me that our dear ex leader is starting to seriously lose it, if the flag story is true. His actions and statements are getting more bizarre every day.

Talk about delusions of grandeur - shades of George 3rd methinks

[jeffer]

700+ comments on the BBC 606 website in only 4 hours on the topic Eriksson To Be Sacked - Absolutely Crazy that's got to be close to a record number of posts in such a short time for the website and 99% agreeing that it's a crazy decision if it turns out to be true. Supporters from all EPL clubs can't believe it. City were close to relegation last season and despite falling away in the latter part of this season are thought to have had a good season by just about everyone except Thaksin. Maybe he wants to appoint a Thai manager so the team can all walk off when they don't like a decision...

[ratcatcher]

Is this another publicity stunt for Toxin?

Saw this flag in the Nation website. Someone wrote Thaksin's name on it. Isn't that some kind of vadalism? Hope that some good lawyers can comment!

Thaksin's lawyer Noppadope has some good comments. He's not very good, but will he do???

Foriegn Affairs Minister: Thaksin Not Involved in National Flag with His Name

The Foreign Affairs Minister believes former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has no involvement with the controversial national flag with his name displayed on it during a Manchester City game.

Foreign Affairs Minister Noppadon Patthama says he has yet to be informed about a giant Thai national flag with the name of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on it, displayed at the City of Manchester City Stadium during a recent English Premier League match of Manchester City Football Club, owned by the former Thai premier.

Noppadon says the display of the controversial national flag likely has no involvement with Thaksin , though he was found to be watching the game at the stadium.

However, the minister says if the Thai people are displeased with the matter, he is ready to ask for clarification from the club.

Meanwhile, an English newspaper, The Sun, has reported that the Swedish manager of Manchester City Football Club, Sven Goran Eriksson, could be dismissed after this season due to the team's recent poor performance.

The Sun quoted a club insider as saying that the recent meeting between Eriksson and Thaksin at the Carrington training ground was unpleasant.

Meanwhile, an onlooker at the training camp saw Eriksson speaking to his players about his leave this summer, but they still want the Swedish manager to stay in charge.

- Thailand Outlook (today)

Thanks sriracha john.

Looks like Toxin gets all the attention that he is seeking right now. This shows WHO is the BOSS when so many ministers running out to defend / 'explain' such an act!

None of all this surprises me in the slightest. It was all bound to happen sooner or later, and the fate of Sven was cast the minute he signed up for his mega salary.

I have some sympathy for Man City supporters, but if they did their homework they would have realized that it would all end in tears.

It seems to me that our dear ex leader is starting to seriously lose it, if the flag story is true. His actions and statements are getting more bizarre every day.

Talk about delusions of grandeur - shades of George 3rd methinks

George the 3rd was a King. Thaksin merely aspires to be.

[Plus]

Yeah, that board is uniform it its opinion:

"Everyone involved with City is very unhappy, from the players to the fans. Well done Thaskin you idiot"

[johnwills]

This is what happens when someone with no love of football takes over a club, the fans should protest, Sven is a great manager and Thaksin is an idiot.

[jeffer]

Oasis star Noel Gallagher tells BBC Radio Five Live that Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is "a nutcase" and "living in cloud cuckoo land" if he thinks sacking manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is a good idea.

[Boater]

But who will he replace as manager?...... Brit, German or Even a Thai National?

[sriracha john]

Is this another publicity stunt for Toxin?

Saw this flag in the Nation website. Someone wrote Thaksin's name on it. Isn't that some kind of vadalism? Hope that some good lawyers can comment!

Thaksin's lawyer Noppadope has some good comments. He's not very good, but will he do???

Foriegn Affairs Minister: Thaksin Not Involved in National Flag with His Name

The Foreign Affairs Minister believes former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has no involvement with the controversial national flag with his name displayed on it during a Manchester City game.

Foreign Affairs Minister Noppadon Patthama says he has yet to be informed about a giant Thai national flag with the name of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on it, displayed at the City of Manchester City Stadium during a recent English Premier League match of Manchester City Football Club, owned by the former Thai premier.

Noppadon says the display of the controversial national flag likely has no involvement with Thaksin , though he was found to be watching the game at the stadium.

However, the minister says if the Thai people are displeased with the matter, he is ready to ask for clarification from the club.

Meanwhile, an English newspaper, The Sun, has reported that the Swedish manager of Manchester City Football Club, Sven Goran Eriksson, could be dismissed after this season due to the team's recent poor performance.

The Sun quoted a club insider as saying that the recent meeting between Eriksson and Thaksin at the Carrington training ground was unpleasant.

Meanwhile, an onlooker at the training camp saw Eriksson speaking to his players about his leave this summer, but they still want the Swedish manager to stay in charge.

- Thailand Outlook (today)

Thanks sriracha john.

Looks like Toxin gets all the attention that he is seeking right now. This shows WHO is the BOSS when so many ministers running out to defend / 'explain' such an act!

Same as Noppadope was speaking for Thaksin regarding the unfreezing of his assets, so too is he speaking here again for Thaksin. A current high level member of the Cabinet acting as no more than a lapdog for Thaksin.

This whole thing of Thaksin on the National Flag harkens back to two previous incidents. (Both described below) The more recent one was the inappropriate use of the National emblem and the other when he was Prime Minister and inappropriately used the designated royal flag as handouts during his campaign rallies.

Thaksin Shinawatra's Manchester City Football Club have fallen foul of the law by displaying a banner featuring the club logo with the Thai national flag in the background.

Police Special Branch pointed out Thursday that the use of the national flag in such a way was a breach of the National Flag Act 1979, and punishable by up to a year in jail and/or Bt2,000 in fines.

Police Special Branch deputy commissioner MajorGen Trithosa Ronnaritthiwichai said the banner breached Article 53 of the bill,

He said police would issue a warning to the violators and that they would be arrested if they continued to use the flag on their banner.

When it comes to inappropriate use of this nation's symbol, Thaksin is no stranger....

as his checkered history reveals...

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra greets farmers during yesterday’s visit with his son Panthongtae to Ayutthaya, where his supporters rallied in the Wang Noi area of Phaholyothin Road.

Thank you for the pic, Jai Dee.

There is an important issue that has the missus absolutely livid about these Thaksin rallies and it's evident in your posted photo.

The issue is that the flags that are being handed by Thaksin staff to attendees of Thaksin's rally.

Particularly, the phrase ทรงพระเจริญ that is inscribed on many of the flags, which is more evident in this photo:

This phrase translates as "Long Live"... and has always been exclusively used to refer to His Majesty the King and members of the Royal Family.

His self-importance has become a bitter pill to swallow for many, many Thais who refuse to swallow it... eg. http://www.thainewyork.com

I'm told that historically in the past, the punishment for such thievery of Royal terms and phrases

was beheading, not only for the offender, but also for next seven generations of the offender.

(of course I'm not advocating that, but it gives an indication of the level of affront that he has given to many Thais).

Not sure if there's been a change in Thaksin's campaign strategy, but photos of yesterday's rally in Chiang Rai with the obligatory flag-waving failed to depict the insulting flags previously flown at other rallies or maybe his staff are just more adept at confiscating the offensive photos.

I am STILL very interested in hearing what Thais think of the above photo depictions and what they implied... ask your significant others what their opinion of this. Mine was abhorred by it.

An additional news photo and info scanned from Thai newspaper:

He really does border on the brink several times.

Although, as has been mentioned on here before in posts by others, he really did run Thailand as if it really WAS Thaksinland.... so it's a fitting depiction of that:

[sriracha john]

apparently forum software only saved the above as miniscule thumbnails, so here's a better photo of the last one:

returning now to the latest Thaksin controversial use of a National Symbol...

THAI FLAG

Ministry cries foul

Kingdom's flag with Thaksin's name strikes sore nerve with locals

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said yesterday he would contact Manchester City Football Club to investigate how a Thai national flag bearing the name "Thaksin" was displayed at the club's stadium.

Matichon newspaper published a picture of the flag taken as City lost 3-2 to Fulham at the City of Manchester Stadium in the English Premier League last Saturday.

Noppadon said it was a sensitive issue among Thai people. He believed the club would cooperate with the ministry to ban the improper act. "Thaksin [shinawatra] is unlikely to be involved in what we saw," he said. It could have been done by City supporters who didn't realise that it was improper to Thais, he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said printing the name of "Thaksin" on the national flag was inappropriate. He has asked his aides to look into the matter, but believes local supporters were responsible.

Thaksin's spokeswoman * he has a virtual brigade of these "spokespeople" * Sansanee Narkphong said the flag could have been placed on the terrace by local supporters. She appealed for Thais to wait until the truth was revealed otherwise they could become the tool of a group who want to ruin Thaksin.

- Daily Xpress / April 30, 2008

[Plus]

What will Thaksin say to all this?

He's got to explaing himself to the fans at some point, and he has to look for a new manager now, not in August.

Scholari is in the top heaven. That coveted Man City job is HIS! He dreamt about it his whole life, preparing with winning world cups and everything.