Thaksin Completes Man City Buyout

[Ricardo]

Designers have already been drafted in to work on the new crest.

- The Nation (today)

Fans will no doubt welcome this use of club funds, for something vital to the club's future, and their performance on-the-field.

Don't like an 8-1 score-line ... just invest in a new logo ! How long before their club is renamed ?

[sriracha john]

Uh oh.... trouble brewing for Thakky in his homeland of Britain...

Gillett, Hicks and Thaksin called to appear before British parliamentary inquiry

LONDON: The Premier League's most antagonistic foreign owners have been invited to appear before a British parliamentary inquiry.

Liverpool's feuding American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr., along with Manchester City's Thaksin Shinawatra, have been asked to appear before the All Party Parliamentary Football Group.

The British lawmakers are investigating the problems involving governance in English football — particularly fans' concerns over foreign owners and their increasing influence.

Hicks and Gillett could use one of the hearings in the fall to air their grievances with each other since taking over Liverpool last year.

Thaksin had a smooth first year in charge at Man. City, until removing manager Sven-Goran Eriksson earlier this month in what he admitted was a "ruthless" action after only one season following the club's ninth-place finish.

Thaksin, who has been accused of human rights abuses before being ousted as Thai prime minister, would be subjected to questions relating to the Premier League's "fit and proper person" test.

- Associated Press (today)

[sriracha john]

British Parliament Investigates Thaksin in Management of Man City

The British Parliament seeks to investigate ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra on calls from fans of Manchester City football club of his mismanagement of the football club and the decision to dismiss manager Sven Goran Eriksson.

The British Parliament has asked Manchester City football club owner Thaksin Shinawatra and Liverpool football club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillette to appear before it to answer to questions raised by the clubs’ fans about their management.

The fans claim mismanagement by the three foreign owners.

Thaksin has angered fans of Man City in his recent dismissal of Sven Goran Eriksson as manager despite Eriksson being able to achieve the goal of bringing the team into the top ten spot on the Premier League. Man City finished the previous season at number nine.

- Thailand Outlook

[TAWP]

I wonder if he will fumble, act in a way like he still thinks he has any power (i.e. still in Thailand)...this will be some interesting proceedings.

[sriracha john]

British Parliament Investigates Thaksin in Management of Man City

The British Parliament has asked Manchester City football club owner Thaksin Shinawatra to appear before it

...this will be some interesting proceedings.

I'm sure he expects nothing less from the MP's in Parliament when he makes his grand entrance...

Thaksin asks Manchester City players to bow

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has hit the club with another shock by asking for the players to bow to him Thai-style before each game

Edited June 18, 2008 by sriracha john

[ratcatcher]

British Parliament Investigates Thaksin in Management of Man City

Is he on drugs? The poor chap looks bewildered and exhausted.

Edited June 18, 2008 by ratcatcher

[plachon]

Is he on drugs? The poor chap looks bewildered and exhausted.

Nah, that's the look you get when you go home to Pokemon after three straight nights out "singing karaoke" with Lydia.

It's his precious son who's got the narcotics problem (allegedly).

[Tony Clifton]

When you lie and cheat your whole life, sleep doesn't come easily later on when it all catches up to you.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin's style and mismanagement no doubt played a major role....

Ronaldinho snubs Manchester City: two-time World Player of the Year joins Milan

The bold pursuit of Ronaldinho finally came to an end for Manchester City last night when the Brazilian agreed to join AC Milan in a transfer worth up to £19.8million.

The deal was struck at around 10pm after Ronaldinho had reacted angrily earlier in the day to City's attempt to structure his vast salary in a pay-as-you-play deal.

City wanted to withhold at least 50 per cent of his staggering £200,000-a-week wage demands based on his fitness, appearances, goals, commercial activities and their position in the Barclays Premier League.

The deal offered by City stated that if Ronaldinho was fit to play regularly, scored plenty of goals, sold plenty of shirts, and helped the club into the top six then he would be paid in full.

However, the two-time World Player of the Year wanted all the money up front and City were not prepared to agree to that. "Ronaldinho does not do auditions," said a source close to the Brazilian just before the move was clinched. "If City are as eager as they say they are, they know the requirements. Or maybe they are not as keen as they would like you to believe."

Countering the claim, a City insider said: "Club owner Dr Thaksin is very keen to bring Ronaldinho to the Premier League but he is not foolish. The deal is there for Ronaldinho to be rewarded for being successful. There is a challenge for him here, but will he accept the challenge?"

Thaksin Shinawatra warned Ronaldinho's team of advisers about the wage structure when they met in Thailand a month ago - but it seems Ronaldinho may have been using this hurdle as an excuse to back out and gain a permanent transfer to Milan.

Milan matched City's basic offer of £100,000 a week, and less in respect of the transfer fee, but the player felt Milan's heritage was more appealing.

As Sportsmail revealed this week, City followed up an emailed offer of £22 million on Sunday - it was accepted by the Spaniards - by sending a delegation to Barcelona to try to complete the audacious signing.

A initial meeting on Monday night involving Thaksin's chief negotiator, Pairoj Piempongsant, and Ronaldinho's brother, Roberto de Assis, went smoothly, but a second discussion with lawyers yesterday did not proceed so well. De Assis returned for another meeting with AC Milan's transfer broker Adriano Galliani, who was later seen with Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

Ronaldinho, who has agreed a three-year contract, is due to arrive in Italy at lunchtime to undergo a medical. His transfer fee will initially be £16.7m, with the rest performance-related.

- Daily Maily / 15-07-08

[Plus]

the player felt Milan's heritage was more appealing.

That's a very diplomatic way of putting it.

What's next for the City?

When is the game with that village club? Pity Ronaldinho couldn't make his grand entrance in front of a full crowd of 2,000 and opted for San Siro instead.

[Tony Clifton]

Thaksin Shinawatra warned Ronaldinho's team of advisers about the wage structure when they met in Thailand a month ago - but it seems Ronaldinho may have been using this hurdle as an excuse to back out and gain a permanent transfer to Milan.

Same old opportunist that Thaksin, the only reason he talked with Ronaldinho's guys was to associate a big name temporarily with the team at absolutely no cost. He would never fork out that much money and simply gave out a "wage structure" offer Ronaldinho COULD refuse.

Edited July 17, 2008 by Tony Clifton

[sriracha john]

There's a new Thai "HUB" in England... the Hub of Bunk and Nonsense...

Manchester City bosses turn to feng shui to boost trophy winning chances

It may be a long shot...but Manchester City's bosses are turning to feng shui to boost their chances of winning trophies.

Magic crystals have been buried under the turf to energise the team's players.

Several have already been dug into the centre circle - and dozens more will be hidden beneath the corner flags before the season kicks off on August 17.

Bosses believe the crystals will turn the £90 million City of Manchester Stadium into a hub of "positive energy and harmony." A further 100 crystals will be put on concrete posts outside the Eastlands ground.

A club source said last night: "It's really bizarre behaviour."

"The older City fans won't like it one bit. Apparently the Thai owners love the superstitious principles of the Far East and hope the crystals will improve the team's performance and the club's financial success."

The unusual move came after billionaire owner Thaksin Shinawatra convinced Executive Chairman Garry Cook to introduce the calming Chinese practice.

Thai bosses attended a crystal-burying ceremony earlier this week.

The source said: "They used a special tool * Thakin's legendary magic elephant wand returns!!! * and sunk several crystals into the ground beneath the centre circle."

Mr Cook now plans to adopt feng shui all around the 48,000-seat stadium. Reception areas, offices and the club shop have been filled with lucky fortune trees, three-legged money toads and Buddhas. Lucky Thai pennies will also be placed in the club safe.

The source said: "The stadium is littered with these bizarre symbols. It's hilarious, one of the fortune trees still has the tag on, it's from B&Q for £24.95. But if it helps us to win games, then who cares?"

Feng shui practitioner Simon Brown said the club was right to try to inspire the team. He said: "Crystals come from deep inside mountains and have a strong energy. Putting them under the pitch will bring that energy on to the field. The three-legged toad and lucky trees are aimed at promoting financial success." *there's at least one loony Englishmen that follows this manure too, it seems*

"It's like a Catholic putting a Crucifix on the wall, for Thai people these symbols are important. But if they really want to affect the players they should change the colour of their jerseys. Teams who wear red like Manchester United seem to win far more often than clubs in blue." *well, Thaksin is changing the club's logo, so why not change the club's color, too*

Shinawatra, 58, known as Frank in the city, bought the team for £82million a year ago.

- Daily Mirror / 17-07-08

Edited July 17, 2008 by sriracha john

[nickynomates]

Its going to take more than a few crystals.

Maybe if they make the opposition teams goal bigger it may help a little.

[Tony Clifton]

Feng f&^ing shui and crystals under the turf. Maybe they'll rearrange the front gates and make sure the toilets aren't too close to the food shops so dragons came come fly right through and out the back loading docks.

The man has quite a few similarities with North Korea s Kim Jong Il. , both nutcases.

[ratcatcher]

Feng f&^ing shui and crystals under the turf. Maybe they'll rearrange the front gates and make sure the toilets aren't too close to the food shops so dragons came come fly right through and out the back loading docks.

The man has quite a few similarities with North Korea s Kim Jong Il. , both nutcases.

We'll have to wait until maybe the first 5 matches Man.City plays before we can judge whether Superman's superstitions are working.

[fred2007]

Thaksin completes Man City buyout

MANCHESTER: -- Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra seal his takeover of Manchester City, gaining control of 75% of its shares, the BBC has learnt.

Thaksin lodged an GBP 81.6m takeover bid for City in June through his company UK Sports Investments and has steadily built up his shareholding.

He will officially install Sven-Goran Eriksson as club manager on Friday, BBC Sport understands.

The Eastlands board has backed the bid but there have been concerns about the source of the money, with Mr Thaksin facing corruption charges in Thailand.

But the man who brokered the City deal has said "the money is clean". Earlier on Sunday, Keith Harris, executive chairman of Seymour Pierce Investment Bank, said the money had been "legitimately and transparently transferred to the UK."

Thaksin will have to pass the Premier League's standard "fit and proper person" test before being able to complete the proposed takeover.

Thai prosecutors recently filed corruption charges against Mr Thaksin. They have also frozen his assets.

Leading shareholders including current board members, former chairman Francis Lee and BSkyB have all agreed to sell their shares to Thaksin.

--The Nation 2007-07-06

Now tell me, who on earth does give a shit about this, are you worried about some some buys out

Bayern Munich or some other club ? You waste your time

[tracer]

I do not think this looks good for the Thai govt...The can not even figure out where the money came from...

On the other hand, can and will Thaksin open his books and prove how all that money found it's way abroad?

crookedly, how else???

[sriracha john]

Thaksin's grand experiment ends rather pitifully... pretty much as everyone suspected. But the publicity propaganda was good while it lasted. Who's next on his "To Be Used" list?

Manchester City send Thai trio back to Thailand football

Manchester City trio Suree Sukha, Kiatprawut Saiwaew, and Teerasil Dangda are set to be loaned back to Thailand clubs for the new season.

Worawi Makudi, President of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), said yesterday he had discussed the matter with City executives who told him they did not want to terminate their contracts, but wanted them to play for any club in Thailand.

''They said when the three players were on loan to clubs in Switzerland and Belgium, they failed to impress,'' Worawi said.

''At the moment they cannot play in England because they are not qualified to get work permits. So City wants them to play for clubs in Thailand, particularly their former clubs here.''

Suree is training with Thai league champions Chonburi FC, while Kiatprawut is injured. Teerasil played for Division One side Muang Thong-Nong Chok before signing with Man City.

''City executives want me to help bring the three players back to Thailand so they will get a chance to play football. This will be the best way for all concerned parties.''

tribalfooball.com - August 02, 2008

[Tony Clifton]

Wasn't there also a hurdle for the three players to actually play with the big team because Thailand was ranked like 75th in the world?

Edited August 3, 2008 by Tony Clifton

[sriracha john]

Conviction for Thaksin could mean FA sanctions

The FA Premier League would reassess Thaksin Shinawatra's suitability to own Manchester City Football Club if he is convicted of a criminal offence in Thailand.

He is facing four charges in the Thai Supreme Court, all of which he denies, with verdicts expected in September. A single conviction, however, would prompt fresh scrutiny under the Premier League's fit and proper persons test.

A Premier League spokesman told Crain's: “It is an ongoing test. We will look into it. If there are developments we will look at them.”

Under Premier League rules, UK convictions for fraud, corruption or tax evasion — or “like offences” in foreign courts — mean that a football club director or shareholder would no longer be considered a fit and proper person. Once deemed not fit and proper, a director or owner has to be asked by the Premier League to resign from the board and give up his financial interest in the club.

If the person fails to resign and the club fails to remove him, rule D10 says the Premier League board “shall have power” to suspend the club from the competition.

Although the test has been in place for a number of years no owner has yet been asked to sell his stake in a club. The Premier League said it could only take action over convictions, not allegations.

Asked whether Thaksin would be asked to give up his shareholding in the club if convicted, a Premier League spokesman added: “We are talking hypothetically at the moment. We would have to look at that situation and examine the law book. We would have to seek legal counsel to see what is reasonable and permissible.”

Thaksin passed the fit and proper persons test when he bought the club in summer 2007.

FA-registered lawyer Lindsey Bell, of JMW Solicitors in Manchester, said: “They are going to have to look at it. If he is convicted and if the offences are similar to the schedule of offences, I think he would be disqualified. With a high-profile matter like this they would have to be seen to be doing the right thing.”

Bell said Thaksin may argue that the Thai Supreme Court was not “competent” because the charges were brought for political reasons. Four charges against Thaksin are now being considered by the Supreme Court.

Two new ones added last week involve allegations of malfeasance in relation to a government lottery and allegations that the former Thai prime minister arranged soft loans while in office to enable the Burmese military dictatorship to buy telecoms equipment from his Shin Corp conglomerate.

Other Supreme Court charges include the alleged abuse of power for the benefit of family businesses and a charge that he helped his wife Pojaman buy government land in central Bangkok for a third of its value. Thaksin and his wife deny any wrongdoing and insist all charges against them are politically motivated.

Thaksin was dealt a heavy blow last week when Pojaman was found guilty by a lower court of evading 546 million baht (£8.2m) in tax following a 1997 shares transfer in Shin Corp. She was sentenced to three years in jail, but released on bail pending appeal.

A spokesperson for Thaksin said on Friday that the couple would not be seeking asylum abroad and had faith in the Thai justice system, which has asserted its independence in recent months to the surprise of political analysts.

“I can assure you that Thaksin will return to Thailand as scheduled, after attending the opening of the Olympics in Beijing on August 9 and 10,” spokesman Pongthep Thepkanchana said.

- Crain's Manchester Business News

[sriracha john]

Will Thaksin recreate his airdrop and dump a million origami birds onto Manchester to soothe the troubled locals?

Taxi for Thaksin? City are rocked as Thai supremo considers his future

The long-term future of Manchester City is in doubt again today after it emerged that owner Thaksin Shinawatra has tentatively explored the possibility of selling the club.

Sportsmail can reveal that the former Thai Prime Minister has spoken to an intermediary in the financial world over the past month about finding prospective buyers.

Thaksin Shinawatra says he wants the best for Manchester City but events in the Thailand courts look like dictating the club's next chapter. And sources close to the situation revealed last night that two anonymous parties have been approached as Thaksin has investigated ways of selling the club he bought for £80 million last summer or bringing in fresh investors.

Currently there is no prospective deals in the pipeline and it is not known whether Thaksin, 59, is actively trying to sell now or merely testing the water for the future. But as he struggles to get £800 million of assets unfrozen in his native Thailand, while currently facing trial on corruption charges in Bangkok, it appears he is considering cutting his losses at the City of Manchester Stadium.

New manager Mark Hughes is currently trying to remodel a playing squad that he considers to be ill-equipped for a top-six Barclays Premier League challenge, but it is understood there is not a huge amount of money for him to spend this summer. Furthermore, it is believed that Thaksin's cash-flow problems were such last season that he twice had to borrow substantial amounts of money from former owner John Wardle in order to pay the wages.

This money has since been repaid to Wardle, who quit his post as Deputy Chairman a disillusioned man earlier this summer. Since Hughes took over, City have spent £3 million to sign Israel defender Tal Ben Haim from Chelsea and announced a £19 million club record deal for Brazilian striker Jo. Nevertheless, it is understood that the down-payment on Jo was actually a much more modest £4 million, with the rest to come in installments.

The club are close to sealing the £7.5 million sale of Croatia defender Vedran Corluka to Tottenham as Hughes endeavours to release cash for new players such as Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz and West Ham defender Lucas Neill. A recent bid to buy goalkeeper Brad Friedel from Blackburn fell down because City would not match the wages offered by Aston Villa. There was a further setback for Hughes last night when Michael Chretien snubbed City in favour of a new deal at his current club, French league Nancy. Hughes was ready to offer the Moroccan defender a £3.5 million move to the Premier League. But Chretien, 24, made a surprise U-turn and signed a deal that keeps him in France until 2012.

City are committed to significant payments on the eight players - Corluka among them - signed on staggered deals by Hughes' predecessor Sven Goran Eriksson just prior to last season. The headline investment last summer was £45 million, but the initial cash outlay was between £15 million and £20 million.

Last night a Manchester City spokesman said: 'It is not true to say that Thaksin Shinawatra is trying to sell Manchester City, nor that he is looking for a buyer. Since he bought the club a number of potential investors from his wide network of business associates have spoken to Thaksin about investing in the club. These discussions have been nothing more than exploratory.'

- Daily Mail (UK)

Edited August 5, 2008 by sriracha john

[Plus]

The doomsday scenario - Thaksin is disqualified or runs out of funds, whatever comes first, and City has no money to pay installments for their players, nor money to pay their wages.

The party didn't last long, did it? Just over half a year, and it's been downhill for them since last Christmas with Ericsson sacking being the low ebb. Or wait, the worst is yet to come.

[sriracha john]

Sold on City, or is Shinawatra ready to sell up and leave new boss Hughes in limbo?

When a Manchester City club employee lost his luggage on Thaksin Shinawatra's much-heralded return to Bangkok in February, the former Thai prime minister did not hesitate paying for some replacement clothes out of his own pocket.

Given that Thaksin's return from exile was seen as the first step towards unfreezing £800 million of his own assets in Thailand, what difference was a couple of hundred pounds going to make?

Six months on and City's owner and Chairman has some rather more important financial decisions to ponder.

News that Thaksin has spoken to financial experts about the possibility of selling the Barclays Premier League club he has owned for not much longer than a year will shock supporters hopeful that City were about to challenge at the top of the table under new manager Mark Hughes. But, to those close to the club and its fortunes over recent months, it comes as no surprise.

'City's position has looked a little interesting for a while and there are many people who won't be amazed at this,' one analyst told Sportsmail last night. 'Something like this has looked possible since the turn of the year.'

Certainly, the exact state of City's finances have been uncertain for a while. In January, for example, former manager Sven Goran Eriksson felt compelled to compile not one but two lists of 2008 transfer targets. One for a period of significant spending and the other a little more modest.

At the heart of this lack of clarity is believed to have been the matter of Thaksin's personal fortune, frozen by the Thai courts.

When Thaksin returned home after 17 months in exile, it was with a clear objective in mind. With a ruling party sympathetic to him back in power, City officials were led to believe that he would soon be cleared of corruption charges that continued to hang over him and - in due course - his money would be his once more.

It has not happened.

Just last week, Thaksin's wife, Pojaman, was sentenced to three years in prison - though she has been bailed pending appeal - while the 59-year-old himself is on trial in three other cases.

Seen as a legal milestone in Thailand, the conviction of a member of Thaksin's family could yet transpire to be almost as pivotal in the story of Manchester City.

Certainly, the current picture is a little different than it appeared when Thaksin paid in the region of £80 million to buy the club from John Wardle in the early summer of 2007.

With Eriksson quickly appointed on £2.5 million a year and eight players recruited from around the globe at a combined cost of more than £45 million, it appeared the good times were about to roll at Eastlands.

Even then, however, things were not quite as some thought. With a portion of this summer's estimated TV revenue used to fund transfers last summer - not an unusual move in football, it must be said - most of those eight deals were set up with staggered payments.

In short, the headline figure may have topped £45 million, but the actual cash spent at the time was about a third of that. This summer the next batch of those installments is due and a significant figure is involved - something that looks to be having an effect on Hughes' transfer strategy.

Having conceded privately that his squad is not equipped for a challenge on the top six, Hughes is seeking a new left back, holding midfielder, right winger and centre forward as he looks to balance up a playing roster that he found to be significantly deficient when he arrived at the City of Manchester Stadium in early June.

Hughes is not the only manager struggling to find value in an inflated market. But while City are far from flat broke, it is certainly the case that the ex-Blackburn boss is not being extravagantly bankrolled in the manner many City fans hoped he would be when the club chased Ronaldinho just a month ago.

That particular deal - totalling £22 million - had been set up by City's inventive executive chairman Garry Cook in such a way that much of the capital would have come from outside the club and from the player's own backers at Nike.

Right now, all Hughes can do is wait. It is not certain that Thaksin will sell the club in the foreseeable future. Currently, the City owner has merely tested the water. If he escapes conviction in Thailand, then his money may yet be his and City could feel the benefit.

Last spring, he told the club's official website that he was at City for the long haul and vowed there would be significant cash available for players in the summer of 2009.

In a Sportsmail exclusive interview in June, he promised: "We will pay the best for the best and to the best. Tell the fans from me that they cannot love the club more than me. We have the same goals and they will understand me now."

The picture has changed a little in Bangkok since then, however, and it would now appear that the next City chapter will be dictated more by events in East Asia than in East Manchester.

- Daily Mail

[marshbags]

Taxi for Thaksin? City are rocked as Thai supremo considers his future

By Ian Ladyman

Daily Mail Sports Section, Last updated at 9:41 AM on 06th August 2008

Ref url :- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ers-future.html

The long-term future of Manchester City is in doubt again today after it emerged that owner Thaksin Shinawatra has tentatively explored the possibility of selling the club.

Sportsmail can reveal that the former Thai Prime Minister has spoken to an intermediary in the financial world over the past month about finding prospective buyers.

Eastern promise: Thaksin Shinawatra says he wants the best for Manchester City but events in the Thailand courts look like dictating the club¿s next chapter.

And sources close to the situation revealed last night that two anonymous parties have been approached as Thaksin has investigated ways of selling the club he bought for £80million last summer or bringing in fresh investors.

Currently there is no prospective deal in the pipeline and it is not known whether Thaksin, 59, is actively trying to sell now or merely testing the water for the future. But as he struggles to get £800m of assets unfrozen in his native Thailand while currently facing trial on corruption charges in Bangkok, it appears he is considering cutting his losses at the City of Manchester Stadium.

New manager Mark Hughes is currently trying to remodel a playing squad that he considers to be ill-equipped for a top-six Barclays Premier League challenge, but it is understood there is not a huge amount of money for him to spend this summer.

Furthermore, it is believed that Thaksin's cash-flow problems were such last season that he twice had to borrow substantial amounts of money from former owner John Wardle in order to pay the wages.

This money has since been repaid to Wardle, who quit his post as deputy chairman a disillusioned man earlier this summer. Since Hughes took over, City have spent £3m to sign Israel defender Tal Ben Haim from Chelsea and announced a £19m club record deal for Brazilian striker Jo. Nevertheless, it is understood that the down-payment on Jo was actually a much more modest £4m, with the rest to come in instalments.

The club are close to sealing the £7.5m sale of Croatia defender Vedran Corluka to Tottenham as Hughes endeavours to release cash for new players such as Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz and West Ham defender Lucas Neill.

A recent bid to buy goalkeeper Brad Friedel from Blackburn fell down because City would not match the wages offered by Aston Villa.

There was a further setback for Hughes last night when Michael Chretien snubbed City in favour of a new deal at his current club, French league Nancy.

Hughes was ready to offer the Moroccan defender a £3.5m move to the Premier League. But Chretien, 24, made a surprise U-turn and signed a deal that keeps him in France until 2012.

City are committed to significant payments on the eight players - Corluka among them - signed on staggered deals by Hughes' predecessor Sven Goran Eriksson just prior to last season. The headline investment last summer was £45m but the initial cash outlay was between £15m and £20m.

Last night a Manchester City spokesman said: 'It is not true to say that Dr Thaksin Shinawatra is trying to sell Manchester City, nor that he is looking for a buyer. Since he bought the club a number of potential investors from his wide network of business associates have spoken to Dr Thaksin about investing in the club. These discussions have been nothing more than exploratory.'

Unqoute

There you go, now perhaps the F.ball associations who sanctioned his takeover can be charged for bringing the game into disrepute for not conducting a fair and proper investigation prior to him taking over, and in spite of all the ongoing controversy.

The clubs fans will sufffer once again, due to leagues incompetance and hypocrisy, along with much uncertainty at what is a most critical period of the 2008 /2009 season, which will be felt throughout the club.

marshbags :redcard2:s for the officials and the Kamoy in Chief

Edited August 6, 2008 by marshbags

[sriracha john]

- Manchester City Football Club News / vitalfootball.co.uk / Aug. 7, 2008

Much as there is an air of 'so far so good' on the playing front around SportCity right now following that morale sapping end to last season, there is also a degree of concern as to where the club is heading under Thaksin Shinawatra, Garry Cook and their advisors. Relentless rumours abound and the hacks are drooling over every possible City in crisis angle that they can get hold of.

Thaksin is in the shit. His wife may be on bail, but his decision to go back to Thailand for a big let off has clearly backfired as the cases against him mount. City's spokesman has confirmed Thaksin is looking for investment which is alarming enough after all the promises we were sold. Should he go down, nothing can be ruled in or out as to what happens next. A risk of unprecedented Premier League intervention cannot be dismissed.

We also know now that all the signings made since the Thai takeover have been made with small down payments with the rest to follow over the years. Now we know why we haven't signed any English players as fees for their services have to be paid inside one year.

What we can ill afford is for another period of instability like the one that engulfed us all earlier this year, but that's exactly what we have got until Thaksin's immediate future is resolved.

Until then, Manchester City will remain in financial limbo, whatever the manager or the board might say. Christ alone knows what the future will bring, but what we as fans have to do is stay focused on team affairs as much as possible and hope the team think likewise. Their fragile mentality was ruthlessly exposed by a piss poor Middlesborough team lest we forget.

The worst case scenario is that of a Leeds style meltdown following the conviction of our owner, but we have been down among the deadmen before and fought back. The main thing is that we stick together and strap ourselves in, waiting for this mother of all roller coaster rides to take it's next turn.

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

*bold underling mine*

Interesting bit about the rules and why they hadn't signed any English players.

[Siripon]

Some say Thaksin doesn't want to face questions from the FA about the origins of the funds to buy Man City, ie where's the evidence from the BOT giving permission to take out the money, or if the funds came from abroad where's the declaration of assets to the NCCC?

Also he doesn't want to face the British media with embarrassing questions about his wife's conviction. In the past he could shrug off the legal cases as a junta's game, but being convicted under a democracy dominated by his own party, rules that ploy out.

So try to sell now before forced to is the only option, but of course potential buyers know that, so Thaksin's best option would be partners who then take over.

[Sarpedon]

This was taken from a football forum website:

from an alleged employee of MCFC -

"I'm sorry to say this, as a life long fan and - for the last few (for me at least) unforgettable months - employee, MCFC as we know it is finished. Here are the FACTS, for those who really want to know. Thaksin is, as of midlnight 10th August, 2008, an international fugitive.

He now has to be found guilty of corruption in Thailand in his absense, offering no defence. Extradition requests will surely follow. The PL will then have to find him short of the fit and proper ownership rules (and believe me, the pressure for that from fellow 'members' has been growing since June).

Thaksin is trying to palm off City onto whoever will now take it, an insolvent mess of a business, completely incapable of sustaining itself. The truth is that the only interested party (until recently) - Wardle - is not now able to bail City out now , he cant come close on his own and no partners have been found. The wage bioll and committments due on the last 2 years' transfers have spiralled out of control.

The Corluka affair is the last straw - I personally worked on the deal and can assure anyone interested that he has already been transferred to Spurs. Spurs have this evening started legal action, and he will be barred from playing for City following an injunction in the courts tomorrow.

Personally I expect Hughes to then resign on principal (he has no choice now, he is on record as saying that he will have final say on all transfers). Many wont believe any of this, but a few will.

I am very close to this situation (readers will never know who I am or how close - a few would know my name but it isnt appropriate to for me to come 'out') - trust me, I am close enough to know what has happeneded in the last fortnight, I am pissed off with it (as a fan, and as someone who has worked hard for the club durinig the ast 18 months or so) and it must be said, a little drunk.

I am posting this message on a few sites - apologies for those that keep reading it, but I want City fans to know what is happening. The sad truth is we are finished, and that as a result, the PL will be facing its biggest challenge since inception within 2 weeks of now."

[Tony Clifton]

Some say Thaksin doesn't want to face questions from the FA about the origins of the funds to buy Man City, ie where's the evidence from the BOT giving permission to take out the money, or if the funds came from abroad where's the declaration of assets to the NCCC?

Also he doesn't want to face the British media with embarrassing questions about his wife's conviction. In the past he could shrug off the legal cases as a junta's game, but being convicted under a democracy dominated by his own party, rules that ploy out.

So try to sell now before forced to is the only option, but of course potential buyers know that, so Thaksin's best option would be partners who then take over.

He can't escape, he's after his money now like a moth on a bulb.

I ve said this for a while but I guess the time is about right now, Interpol should soon step in with ample proof of money laundering, the swiss banks he pissed off will gladly cooperate as well. We may even see parade of figures in his entourage getting the same treatment while they're at it and I m not just talking family but business associates and ex-ministers.

[hammered]

Some say Thaksin doesn't want to face questions from the FA about the origins of the funds to buy Man City, ie where's the evidence from the BOT giving permission to take out the money, or if the funds came from abroad where's the declaration of assets to the NCCC?

Also he doesn't want to face the British media with embarrassing questions about his wife's conviction. In the past he could shrug off the legal cases as a junta's game, but being convicted under a democracy dominated by his own party, rules that ploy out.

So try to sell now before forced to is the only option, but of course potential buyers know that, so Thaksin's best option would be partners who then take over.

He can't escape, he's after his money now like a moth on a bulb.

I ve said this for a while but I guess the time is about right now, Interpol should soon step in with ample proof of money laundering, the swiss banks he pissed off will gladly cooperate as well. We may even see parade of figures in his entourage getting the same treatment while they're at it and I m not just talking family but business associates and ex-ministers.

It may be that he actually has used a lot of money borrowed from associates on future promises. That will have bigger repercussions now as he may well not be able to deliver. He may have only used small downpayments to purchase footballers and even used borrowed money to buy Manchester City but the last election would have been all upfront money. Failure to deliver to those who funded it on his behalf may well have big poltical repercusions and potentially repurcussions beyond.

Some Man Citeh supporters are convinced virtually all of his money is stuck in Thailand. If they are right his credit line just eneded. On the other hand he could just be shafting them.

[Tony Clifton]

So much for sitting in the stadium with the crowd , IF he manages to hold on to the club until season opening.