Thaksin sells ManCity FC

[Bernie]

Over the weekend, and even now, Thaksin is broadcasting into the USA on a former Lao satellite TV channel. Don't know where else the broadcast is being beamed. The channel has been renamed "Thai Overseas TV". Last week Thaksin reportedly told his supporters to accept the ruling of the Constitution Court. And now he is broadcasting his complaints about the "unfairness" of it all. Anyone have any info on this new PR effort?

Bernie

[GWR]

Manchester City in advance discussion with interested "parties"

Manchester City are in "advanced discussions" that could lead to an offer being made for the club.

City are to release a statement to the Stock Exchange on Tuesday, stating that talks held with "interested parties may or may not lead to an offer," BBC reported Tuesday.

Ex-Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is reported to have lodged a formal bid for the club. And the Premiership outfit has also been linked with a buy-out from American investors.

But former City player Ray Ranson is understood to have withdrawn his bid to buy the club.

City's statement comes on the day that Claudio Ranieri - strongly linked with the managerial vacancy at the club - was appointed boss of Italian side Juventus.

Ranieri was thought to be the favoured choice of Thaksin and the two men met in London last Wednesday - but the delay over the takeover led the Italian to opt for Juve.

"It was difficult to say no to the big project at Manchester City - but the team have not been taken over yet and for me I cannot wait for one week more," said Ranieri.

Thaksin's lawyer Noppadon Pattama said in May: "Thaksin has officially submitted his bid to buy the football club.

"There is not any official conclusion yet at this moment, but everything is proceeding well. By the end of this month, everything will be clear."

But the issue has dragged on, with paperwork now being handled by Thaksin's lawyers.

City chairman John Wardle, who along with business partner David Makin has a 29% stake on the club, is thought to be supportive of Thaksin's interest.

Wardle is thought to have a cut-off date after which he believes it will no longer be in the club's short-term interests to further delay signing new players but it is not thought to be imminent.

AFP reported that Noppadon yesterday remained tight-lipped on Tuesday on a report that a deal was close.

Noppadon said the deal was proceeding "well" but declined to comment on the report.

"So far I learn that the deal is proceeding well. (But) I can't give any details on this issue. Thaksin instructed me not to talk about this matter unless it's final," Noppadon told AFP.

"I think when the deal is concluded, we will have a press conference here," he said without elaborating further.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007...s_30036063.php

[GWR]

Thaksin Man City bid likely next week

Thaksin Shinawatra is expected to make a formal bid for control of Manchester City next week, the British media reported this morning.

But the reports say that the former Thai prime minister will need all his persuasive charm to install Juande Ramos as manager after it emerged that the Spaniard is in negotiations to extend his contract at Sevilla.

A lengthy article in The Independent newspaper published this morning (Thailand time) said that City had confirmed on Monday that talks had progressed to an advanced stage with "interested parties" and anticipate an official offer of around 90 million pounds (6.12 billion baht, $179.4 million) to materialise from Mr Thaksin following the completion of the current due diligence process.

Mr Thaksin suffered a serious setback in his managerial pursuit this week when first choice Claudio Ranieri joined Juventus, citing delays in the takeover as a factor in his decision to reject City's advances, according to The Independent's article.

Mr Thaksin's team, however, had drawn up an alternative shortlist of candidates prior to Ranieri's move and remain confident of making an appointment before the squad reports back for pre-season training in the first week of July.

The Dutchmen Louis van Gaal, in charge of AZ Alkmaar, and the former Ajax and Porto coach Co Adriaanse are both on that shortlist although Gerard Houllier, the bookmakers' favourite, has received several offers since leaving Lyon and is considering the experience of another European League.

The much sought-after Ramos, who has guided Sevilla to two consecutive Uefa Cup successes plus the cusp of the Spanish title and the Copa del Rey final this season, is also on Mr Thaksin's wishlist but the Thai will need to convince the 52-year-old he has a substantial transfer budget to lure him away from Andalucia.

Ramos has one year remaining on his contract with Sevilla but can leave this summer if a buy-out clause is paid, although the Spanish club hope to secure an extension to his services when talks conclude after the Copa del Rey final against Getafe on 23 June.

"He is in discussions with the club in order to get another contract," a Sevilla spokesman said last night. "Juande publicly always says that he is happy here. He wants to continue and is waiting until after the League and Cup to get a meeting with the president to arrange a new contract."

Link may expire:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_....php?id=119250

[GWR]

Manchester City gives Thaksin deadline

England's Premier League Manchester City are giving ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra 48 hours to close the deal to take over the club - or the big sale is off.

London-based Mirror online reported that Thaksin is trying to clear the final hurdle to buy the club but time will run out Friday night.

Man City have been in talks with Thaksin for over a month.

Thaksin has to find around ฿30million to pay off the debt to one of the companies who have lent money to City.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007...s_30036254.php

Indeed, it look almost as if Manchester is bracing itself for mob protests:

CITY MAYHEM
By David Mcdonnell And Alan Nixon 05/06/2007

MANCHESTER CITY are in chaos after Claudio Ranieri snubbed them for Juventus and would-be owner Thaksin Shinawatra ran into a big takeover snag.

Ranieri accepted a oneyear offer at Juve when he was put under pressure to accept as the Italians threatened to appoint former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson.

The former Chelsea chief had originally given Shinawatra a one-week deadline to buy City and make him manager - or he would join Juve.

It is a devastating setback for City, who had let Shinawatra and his team open talks with a manager before they had even closed the deal to move into the club.

He has been in negotiations for City for almost a month. His offer suits chairman John Wardle and leading shareholder Dave Makin, but some of the club's financial backers are unconvinced.

The former policeman and Thai Prime Minister has also vowed to spend around £50million on new players.

But managerless City may yet be left in turmoil as rival clubs make appointments and snap up players.Desperate to quell growing unrest among fans, the club said last night: "The Board is in advanced discussions with interested parties" - which suggests not just Shinawatra is looking into buying the club.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/topsto...name_page.html

[Bernie]

Of course, if this Man City / Thaksin deal is real it’ll be a while (if ever) before we learn the financial details of it. But I must say I wonder where Thaksin is getting the money for this. Supposedly the proceeds from the Shin Corp stock sale is still on deposit in Thailand. One wonders if he will be allowed to take any of that cash out of the country. Or perhaps he already has a bundle stashed outside. At any rate, it seems that the Thai govt. is being rather lenient with Thaksin. No frozen assets? No requests to other governments to freeze assets? Or could the stories be true of boxes of cash being flown out of Thailand just prior to Thaksin’s trip to the UN in October? All of this seems to belie one the stated reasons given for the coup i.e., to clean up corruption.

[FarangBha]

they certainly took alot of bags on their last official trip - what was it, 67 or something, with a stop off in Finland(?). And then how many trips have the rest of the clan made??

And who knows how many off-shore accounts he has.

[GWR]

City seek Thaksin answers

LONDON - Manchester City are seeking clarification of would-be buyer Thaksin Shinawatra's financial status after Thailand's anti-graft panel said it would freeze 1.5 billion dollars worth of assets held by the former premier and his family.

The move has cast doubt on whether Thaksin will be able to proceed with his planned buyout of the English Premiership club.

In a statement, City confirmed that they were uncertain as to the implications of Monday's development.

"The board notes the information emanating out of Thailand today in respect of Dr Shinawatra and the freezing of his assets," read a statement issued by the club.

"The board and its advisers are in discussion with Dr Shinawatra's advisers to confirm the implications of these developments in respect of their client's interest in potentially making an offer for the company.

"These discussions and those between the company and other interested parties may or may not lead to an offer being made for the company."

The assets frozen in Thailand are held in 21 accounts that hold the profits from the sale of Thaksin's Shin Corp telecom giant to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.

The committee also ordered a freeze on an unspecified number of personal accounts held by Thaksin and his wife Pojaman, citing evidence that Thaksin had broken the law.

Agence France-Presse

See also thread on the assets freeze imposed on ex-PM Thaksin and his family:

http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bang...5130#post15130