Thaksin Buys Manchester

[Momo8]

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http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menui...RCRD&s=News

The Thaksin Shinawatra roadshow moved into high gear in Hong Kong yesterday, as the ousted Thai prime minister talked up his new role as an English soccer mogul and vowed to help Asia's poor. Arriving hours after completing his takeover of Premier League side Manchester City, Thaksin said he would be working closely with the team's new manager, former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson, to build a bright future for one of football's "sleeping giants".

He insisted he wanted to return to Thailand despite mounting legal problems, but repeatedly denied he held any political ambitions and said he was no longer communicating with the generals who ousted him.

"I still think some piece is missing somewhere," he said of his life in exile and attempts to get involved in the English game, which included an attempt to buy Liverpool FC in 2003. "So when I came across ... Manchester City, I thought it would be a great challenge for me to wake this sleeping giant." The club has spent decades in the shadow of Manchester United and has not won a trophy in 31 years.

He refused to detail how his 74 per cent stake had been financed, or how much Eriksson would have to spend on players. He said "money isn't everything", and he wanted first to boost the management's wisdom and talents. He said the club was in the market for fresh players, particularly midfielders and attackers.

He avoided talk of a timetable for success, but described the length of Eriksson's contract - three years - as a good time frame. "We will have to take things step by step," he said.

Thaksin vowed he would watch City regularly and would be at the first match of the season on August 11. That will boost his profile in football-mad Thailand. He said Manchester fans found Sinatra an easier name to pronounce than his surname, and so they called him "Frank".

He vowed to bring a Thai style to the club by offering Thai food and cultural dancers for fans on match days. He hopes to bring more Asian players into the Premiership, saying he wanted to work with poor communities to promote young talent.

Thaksin was making his first detailed comments about the City takeover, which comes as Thailand's military-installed government pursues legal action against him and his wife. His Thai assets have been frozen and he faces prosecution for corruption.

A commission last week approved a draft constitution which, if backed in a referendum, will pave the way for elections this year. It also dilutes the prime minister's powers.

He echoed comments on the charter by his Thailand-based supporters, saying it was impossible for a junta to give birth to democracy. However, he said he had not read it.

Thaksin arrived in Hong Kong via Tokyo to chair a meeting of the Thailand Professional Golf Association. He returns to London today.

[A_Traveller]

Thanks for this well worth reading,

He refused to detail how his 74 per cent stake had been financed, or how much Eriksson would have to spend on players. He said "money isn't everything",

Thaksin arrived in Hong Kong via Tokyo to chair a meeting of the Thailand Professional Golf Association. He returns to London today.

Regards

[Mid]

Thaksin arrived in Hong Kong via Tokyo to chair a meeting of the Thailand Professional Golf Association

there's a mouthfull ..............................