Thaksin Eyes New English Soccer Team

[george]

PM eyes new soccer team

Buy the debt-free one or the inexpensive one.

That is Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s dilemma as he looks to acquire a soccer team in the English Premier League after yesterday giving up on mid-table Fulham, his old acquisition target.

Thaksin, who on Saturday night watched the first half of a match between Newcastle United and Middlesbrough, said yesterday that he would not buy Fulham, who were defeated by Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

But he kept the name of his new target close to his vest.

Amid rumours that he is eyeing Liverpool, Thaksin said that he would buy neither Manchester United, which is too expensive, nor Leeds United, which is on the brink of falling out of the league.

--The Nation 2004-02-23

[Rangsit]

What sort of money are we talking about here? Fifty million stg?

[Suzy]

Is he paying over or under the table?

[george]

Thai PM eyes Liverpool bid

BANGKOK: - Billionaire Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is eyeing a bid for premier league club Liverpool after Fulham spurned his advances last year, an advisor says.

"I believe the prime minister already had his aides checking Liverpool's financial position in the past four to five months," said Thawatchai Satchakul, manager of the Thai national soccer team who advised Thaksin during his pursuit of Fulham.

"He is now in the process of deciding whether to bid for Liverpool," Thawatchai told Reuters on Monday.

Thaksin, who made his money in telecommunications, told reporters on Sunday he was still serious about buying a premier league club.

"It should be a bigger club (than Fulham)," Thaksin said, but he declined to elaborate.

Thaksin expressed interest in Fulham last November after watching the club play in London.

But Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed, the owner of London department store Harrods who has known Thaksin for years, said he had no intention of selling the club.

"His feeling now is similar to that five or six months ago when Fulham was in the picture. If you visualised him doing shopping in a store, I would say the prime minister's eyes are now fixed on Liverpool," Thawatchai said.

--Reuters 2004-02-23

[Rinrada]

Enfield Town F.C.is still available mate...mai peng

[markt]

Maybe he could build a new ground for Enfield FC

[marquess]

He should not be allowed to buy any football club. Just the same way we are not allowed to buy land or a house here in Thailand!

[Rinrada]

You aint seen Enfield Town

[Spellbound]

He should not be allowed to buy any football club. Just the same way we are not allowed to buy land or a house here in Thailand!

The Thai government warned the people of Thailand not to buy overseas products en masse in late 2003; the trade balance was working out negatively for Thailand.

This is probably why Thaksin wants to buy an English football team _ as a nice demonstration that warnings and rules for the Thai people do not apply to their dear leader himself.

If he starts to make to many noises about buying in the UK, best somebody speaks out about the way he treats westerners and the land laws. Perhaps an email to all the government bodies, media, etc might piss on his fireworks for a minute, but for one I wont hold my breath.

( Sorry forgot for a nano / nana second, he invented the Elite Card with land offerings that are going to be proved illegal.)

[Dutchy]

The Thai government warned the people of Thailand not to buy overseas products en masse in late 2003; the trade balance was working out negatively for Thailand.

This is probably why Thaksin wants to buy an English football team _ as a nice demonstration that warnings and rules for the Thai people do not apply to their dear leader himself.

If you quote better mention your source...

Dutchy

[Pink Mist]

Thai PM weighs up Reds bid

ITV.COM, Liverpool, Monday February 23 2004

Liverpool are reportedly the target of a bid by Thailand's billionaire Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who remains determined to buy a Premiership club.

The telecommunications tycoon has decided to turn his attention to Liverpool after he failed in his attempts to buy Fulham early in November.

According to Thawatchai Satchakul, manager of the Thai national soccer team, Shinawatra had his people looking into the Reds' financial position for the 'past four to five months' with a view to tabling a bid for the Merseyside outfit.

"I believe the prime minister already had his aides checking Liverpool's financial position in the past four to five months," Thawatchai told Reuters.

"He is now in the process of deciding whether to bid for Liverpool.

He added: "His feeling now is similar to that five or six months ago when Fulham was in the picture. If you visualised him doing shopping in a store, I would say the prime minister's eyes are now fixed on Liverpool."

Shinawatra reiterated his desire to buy an English club on Sunday, and appears to have set his sights on a club bigger than the Cottagers.

"It should be a bigger club (than Fulham)," Shinawatra told reporters on Sunday.

The acquisition of Chelsea by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich last year appears to have sparked an era of takeovers, or perhaps more accurately, rumours of similar takeovers, while Manchester United remain the subject of persistent takeover speculation.

The players will all get elite cards

[markt]

You aint seen Enfield Town    

Top of the Essex Senior League i believe. Good future for Town. Not so fo EFC.

[george]

THAI LEADER SET TO KOP OUT

LIVERPOOL are playing down claims by Thailand's billionaire Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that he wants to buy the club.

Thaksin has set his sights on Liverpool after Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed knocked back his offer to buy the Cottagers last year.

Thaksin, who made his money in telecommunications, claims Liverpool are a much more attractive proposition than their Premiership rivals and he said: "Liverpool should be a bigger club than Fulham."

Liverpool are refusing to comment on Thaksin's interest, but it is understood that the Thai has little chance of succeeding.

Anfield chairman David Moores told shareholders at last month's stormy annual meeting he would be prepared to sell his controlling stake to someone who could take the troubled club forward. However, Moores is unlikely to feel that selling his 51 per cent holding to Thaksin would be in the best interests of the club.

Thailand manager Thawatchai Satchakul, who is also Thaksin's adviser, claims his country's Prime Minister is serious about buying Liverpool. Thawatchai said: "I would say the Prime Minister's eyes are now fixed on Liverpool. I believe he already had his aides checking Liverpool's financial position.

"He is now in the process of deciding whether to bid for Liverpool."

But Thaksin is well behind millionaire fan Steve Morgan - the Reds' third largest shareholder - in the race to buy Liverpool.

--The Mirror, UK

[snowleopard]

All the leading Thai politicians including PM Thaksin have to declare their financial assets, yes. If so, how much does the PM state that he has? I'm not sure, but didn't he transfer most or all of his assets to family members to avoid any conflicts of interest

He should not be allowed to buy any football club. Just the same way we are not allowed to buy land or a house here in Thailand

Is he paying over or under the table?

He's given himself dispensation to money launder with impunity!

He knows what happened to Ferdinand Marcos et al. so it's good to have a retirement plan and a hobby in exile!

Snowleopard.

[Pi Sua]

He should not be allowed to buy any football club. Just the same way we are not allowed to buy land or a house here in Thailand!

The best is said !

We shouldn't let a Billionnaire Thai Prime Minister rule a business which a Billionnaire Farang could rule.

Or at least:

Maybe let him buy less than 50% and let him him apply for a work permit as well.

[george]

BUYING INTO THE EPL

How serious is Thaksin, fans wonder

BANGKOK - Is Mr Thaksin Shinawatra serious?

That is the question on the minds of soccer fans here and in Liverpool after Thailand's billionaire Prime Minister signalled he was back in the hunt to buy an English Premiership club after failing in his bid for Fulham.

'I think he's quite serious,' said Wanchai Rujawongsanti, who writes a football column for The Bangkok Post newspaper.

'It's part of his political ambitions and buying a football club is fashionable for rich people. He admires Roman Abramovich.'

Abramovich is the Russian billionaire who bought Chelsea last year.

Mr Thaksin went unusually quiet on the football saga on Tuesday, two days after revealing his interest in the Merseyside club.

His soccer adviser, Thai national team manager Thawatchai Satchakul, said: 'It does not mean that today he will buy Liverpool. I can assure you he is very interested.'

Buying an English club would boost the Thai Premier's image among the soccer-crazy Thais, and he certainly has deep enough pockets to follow in the footsteps of the only other football-club-owning prime minister, Italy's Silvio Berlusconi and his AC Milan.

Liverpool chairman David Moores has a 51-per-cent share in the club, estimated to be worth ยฃ40 million (S$128 million).

Mr Thaksin was estimated to be worth US$1 billion by Forbes magazine in 2002.

-- Reuters 2004-02-26

[Up2U]

So if David Moores (or the Moores family) own 51%, let him put up the money for the other 49%. Same as Thai approach.

Then every week when Littlewoods pays out the football pool winners, let that come from Toxin. Same as in Thailand - farang partner pays the costs, Thai partner pockets the profit.

[george]

Thai PM 'in bid for stake in Liverpool'

Thailand's Prime Minister is preparing a bid to buy a 25% stake in Liverpool, the Daily Express claims.

Thaksin Shinawatra and Thai beverage and property tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi are planning the bid and reports in Thailand claim a deal could be completed by the end of the month.

But an Anfield source told the Express there was a lot of work to be done on the deal.

--Agencies 2004-03-12

[Bluecat]

Khun Thaksin eyes many many things,...

Do you know the french writer La Fontaine and the story about the frog that wanted to get bigger than the bull and ate so much that it exploded,...?

[george]

Thai PM Thaksin talking to Liverpool

BANGKOK: -- Billionaire Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in talks with Liverpool over taking a major stake in the club, it has been confirmed.

Thaksin, who made his money in telecommunications, last month revealed his interest in Liverpool after his bid for fellow premier league club Fulham failed last year.

'We are still in talks and the prime minister is serious about this,' Thawatchai Satchakul, manager of the Thai national soccer team who advised Thaksin during his pursuit of Fulham, told Reuters.

'But there is no decision yet. Everything will depend on negotiations.'

'His intention is similar to that five or six months ago when Fulham was the picture but his focus is on Liverpool now,' Thawatchai said.

Liverpool Chairman David Moores has a 51 percent share in the club, estimated to be worth around £40million. His family built up the successful Littlewoods football pools and store chain and have had a controlling interest in the English club for 50 years.

Thawatchai said if there was an agreement with Liverpool, Thaksin may not carry it out alone.

'I'm sure we would ask others to join and it's reasonable for Charoen to take part as he already supports sport activities here,' he said in reference to Thai tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi.

Thaksin, estimated to be worth $1billion by Forbes magazine in 2002, watched the value of his family's holdings soar along with a surging Thai stock market last year.

The family controls Thailand's largest telecommunications group, Shin Corp, with interests in wireless ranging from satellite to the internet and media.

It also indirectly controls ITV, the country's third most popular television channel.

Charoen is a major shareholder in top Thai beer maker Thai Beverages, which produces top selling Chang Beer and several brands of whisky such as Mekong and Saeng Som and makes a profit of more than $250million a year.

--Reuters 2004-03-13

[eric1000]

Thai PM Thaksin talking to Liverpool

BANGKOK: -- Billionaire Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in talks with Liverpool over taking a major stake in the club, it has been confirmed.

it is said that even if he buys 25% of liverpool , he will always be an outsider ,the family that owns the club dont take kindly to outsiders .

what a laugth when he gets stitched up on a dodgy deal just like all the farangs that have been done on dodgy real estate in LOS !

He would be better off with Leeds FC , get the entire club and the debts .

lets hope he gets sold a large CROCK of **** ehh hehh

[englishoak]

I hope Thaksin does indeed buy a football team in England. 49% only of course

I would love the scrutiny of the English press focused on him for awhile and for once they wouldn't have to make up the mans background. I'm sure there are plenty of people willing to offer information and stories to our keen press boys.

Plus I was not aware of too many FC's clearing a tidy profit, so go ahead MR T if you can cope with the supporters clubs and press speaking up if you put a foot wrong. A good gritty interview with Mr T and Jeremy Paxman would be great

[george]

Thaksin: his conditions for a stake in Liverpool

[sOCCER] Thai soccer chief and adviser to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Thawatchai Sajjakul, has confirmed the premier is negotiating to buy a stake in English Premier League side Liverpool and will spend up to Bt5 billion.

"We don't want to hold majority - we can't afford a majority - we just want enough of a stake to have a say in the club," he said yesterday.

Thawatchai said Thaksin had set two conditions for the purchase, including an agreement to set up a Liverpool Academy to train young footballers here.

The second condition was that Thai players who performed to a certain standard would be guaranteed a place in the Liverpool side. No Thai footballer has ever played in the Premier League before.

Amid reports that the deal could be struck as early as the end of this month, Thawatchai said he was not able to predict when the talks would be completed.

"They haven't said no to us but they haven't said yes either, we both know that a purchase is possible," Thawatchai said yesterday.

"The prime minister is still interested in buying a stake in the team but the negotiations are not over yet," he said of the contacts with Liverpool representatives.

He said Thaksin had invited several business figures including Beer Chang brewery tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi into the consortium bidding for the stake in Liverpool.

If the negotiations fail, they will search for other teams to invest in, said Thawatchai, who as an MP in Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai political party has been assigned to look into taking over a club.

"The prime minister is really interested in football and he wants there to be a place where Thai footballers can go to play," he said.

"If it fails, we will look for another team but we don't want to say that now as long as Liverpool does not say no to us. We haven't terminated the negotiations yet."

--Agencies 2004-03-15

[george]

Follow-up:

PM serious about Liverpool

Adviser: Prospects ‘look quite good’ for buying 25% of vaunted English club

Is Liverpool, one of the most solid Englishowned Premiership clubs with proud local traditions and fan loyalty, on the verge of being bought into by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his key business associates – who might not even know how to sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”?

Speculation, ongoing for weeks, reached a crescendo yesterday, with the Daily Express and the Guardian Unlimited websites reporting that a Thaksinled business consortium, which includes beer baron Charoen Siriwadhanabhakdi, was about to clinch a 25percent stake in the football club for Bt3.5 billion.

In Thailand, Thaksin’s adviser, Thawatchai Sajjakul, gave confusing signals. He was quoted by Reuters as saying that the prospects “look quite good” for the reported deal. To Sky Sports, he reportedly said there was never an intention to take over anything, and “we just want some kind of access to a Premier League club”.

Thaksin himself said he had only discussed with Liverpool the possibility of establishing a highlevel soccer academy in Thailand, and “there has been no talk” about buying into the club.

In his interview with Reuters, Thawatchai – manager of the Thai national soccer team – said the only pending issue in talks with representatives for Liverpool chairman David Moores was the price Thaksin and other Thai investors would pay.

“They say the price we are offering is too low and we say the price at which they are willing to sell is too high,” he said. “They have not turned us down, only saying they'll consider it. I think it should be between Bt2 billion and Bt5 billion.”

A Liverpool spokesman was quoted on some sports websites as saying, “This is nothing more than speculation, and we do not comment on such things.”

Moores has a 51percent holding in the club, estimated to be worth about ฃ40 million (Bt2.8 billion). His family built up the successful Littlewoods football pools and store chain and has had a controlling interest in the English club for 50 years.

A 25percent stake would give the ThaksinCharoen alliance a big say in how one of the most famous football teams on the planet is shaped, in terms of player purchases and team selection. Observers say this might be one of the hurdles to the deal, as Thaksin’s hidden motive is apparently political. Thawatchai’s suggestion that Thaksin would love to see Thai players on the team sheet didn’t help.

Liverpool has a long tradition of being owned, managed and coached by people who really do it for the love of the game. While Thaksin’s cash might be useful for the club which is seeking to strengthen its squad, his political agenda, monopolistic instinct and ruthless business mentality may worry the club’s most important foundation – the fans.

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry travelled to Thailand last month to discuss possible “cooperation” with Thaksin’s aides at a Sukhumvit seafood restaurant.

“It was a fascinating chat on the menu that day in Bangkok. Whether it’s as palatable to Liverpool’s legion of fans is another matter,” said the Daily Express.

--The Nation 2004-03-17

[organic]

Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra does not want to buy Liverpool, according to his advisor.

Thailand coach Thavatchai Sajakul says Thaksin wants to link up with Liverpool to promote football in Thailand.

"Our intention is not to take over," Sajakul said. "We just want some kind of access to a Premier League club.

"We're looking very closely at Liverpool and aside from the access we need some co-operation. Our intention is just to support Thai football."

BBC report

Sounds to me like he's beginning a face-saving climbdown.