June 21, 2007
FORMER Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to take control of Manchester City.
Shinawatra today lodged a formal £81.6million bid for the club after weeks of negotiations.
City's board have recommended to shareholders that the offer should be accepted.
Should Shinawatra go on and see his plans come to fruition his first task will be to appoint a new manager.
But for now he is just happy to be on the verge of gaining control at Eastlands.
Shinawatra said: "I am delighted that the board of Manchester City has recommended my bid for the club.
"I look forward to continuing the excellent work of John Wardle and his team.
"We share a determination to take the club back to its rightful place at the highest level of competition in both the FA Premier League and European football.
"I am in no doubt of the responsibility associated with leading Manchester City and pledge to the fans, players and staff my utmost commitment to the future success of this great club."
But last night there were fears the takeover could open another chapter of chaos at the club.
Shinawatra's bid could still be vetoed if the Premier League decide he does not pass their Right and Proper Persons Test.
He is wanted back in Thailand on charges of corruption and abuse of power and the Thai government yesterday froze £310m of his assets.
That comes after he had £800m in 21 Thai bank accounts seized.
But Shinawatra, overthrown in a bloodless military coup last September, still has a further £1billion fortune — and he has assured City the money is there for him to fulfil his dream of bringing success to Eastlands.
City fans are unhappy at the prospect of ex-England boss Sven Goran Eriksson being appointed.
One website poll showed 80 per cent did not want him and Dave Wallace, editor of the King of the Kippax fanzine, said: "The board have a lot to answer for.
"Although Eriksson was a good club manager 10 years ago, he's damaged goods after what he did with England."
Eriksson would command £2m-a-year wages — significantly more than the £750,000 paid to axed Stuart Pearce
City currently have just 22,000 season-ticket holders for their 48,000- capacity stadium.
And ex-hero Peter Barnes said: “I am not bothered who owns the club as long as he has the money and passion, but we have to get the right manager.
"They must get the right man in. The football was so boring last season.
"We don't need a foreign coach who is just going to spend all the money and use the club as a stepping stone. If I had a choice between Sven and Mark Hughes I know who I'd go for."
Glyn Pardoe, who scored City's 1970 League Cup final winner, said: "I wouldn't be too keen on Eriksson because his record suggests he is dour."
FORMER Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to take control of Manchester City.
Shinawatra today lodged a formal £81.6million bid for the club after weeks of negotiations.
City's board have recommended to shareholders that the offer should be accepted.
Should Shinawatra go on and see his plans come to fruition his first task will be to appoint a new manager.
But for now he is just happy to be on the verge of gaining control at Eastlands.
Shinawatra said: "I am delighted that the board of Manchester City has recommended my bid for the club.
"I look forward to continuing the excellent work of John Wardle and his team.
"We share a determination to take the club back to its rightful place at the highest level of competition in both the FA Premier League and European football.
"I am in no doubt of the responsibility associated with leading Manchester City and pledge to the fans, players and staff my utmost commitment to the future success of this great club."
But last night there were fears the takeover could open another chapter of chaos at the club.
Shinawatra's bid could still be vetoed if the Premier League decide he does not pass their Right and Proper Persons Test.
He is wanted back in Thailand on charges of corruption and abuse of power and the Thai government yesterday froze £310m of his assets.
That comes after he had £800m in 21 Thai bank accounts seized.
But Shinawatra, overthrown in a bloodless military coup last September, still has a further £1billion fortune — and he has assured City the money is there for him to fulfil his dream of bringing success to Eastlands.
City fans are unhappy at the prospect of ex-England boss Sven Goran Eriksson being appointed.
One website poll showed 80 per cent did not want him and Dave Wallace, editor of the King of the Kippax fanzine, said: "The board have a lot to answer for.
"Although Eriksson was a good club manager 10 years ago, he's damaged goods after what he did with England."
Eriksson would command £2m-a-year wages — significantly more than the £750,000 paid to axed Stuart Pearce
City currently have just 22,000 season-ticket holders for their 48,000- capacity stadium.
And ex-hero Peter Barnes said: “I am not bothered who owns the club as long as he has the money and passion, but we have to get the right manager.
"They must get the right man in. The football was so boring last season.
"We don't need a foreign coach who is just going to spend all the money and use the club as a stepping stone. If I had a choice between Sven and Mark Hughes I know who I'd go for."
Glyn Pardoe, who scored City's 1970 League Cup final winner, said: "I wouldn't be too keen on Eriksson because his record suggests he is dour."