Thaksin looking to buy Manchester City

The Straits Times, April 24, 2007


BANGKOK - DEPOSED Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who once tried to purchase Liverpool, may be considering buying Manchester City.

His lawyer and de facto spokesman, Noppadol Pattama, would not confirm local press reports that the billionaire, in exile in Britain since his September ouster, would try to buy a stake in the Premiership club.

However, he did say that the 57-year-old is considering a stake in an English club.

Said Noppdol: 'He is looking to do some business, and it is possible that he will buy a team because he loves football.

'But I cannot confirm or deny it yet. It will be clearer in the next few weeks.'

Thaksin's intentions apparently appeared first in his Thai website.

The site - www.hi-thaksin.net - said that the former prime minister was ready to pay more than 6 billion baht (S$280 million) for Manchester City, with partners from China and the Middle East.

Thaksin, one of Thailand's richest people, was toppled in a bloodless military coup last September, after months of street protests.

He has since been spending time at his London home, as well as travelling in Europe and Asia.

In 2004, he made an unsuccessful attempt at purchasing a 30 per cent stake in Liverpool.

He had also reportedly expressed interest in acquiring other English clubs.

The website said that Mohammed Al-Fayed, the Egyptian billionaire owner of London's Harrods department store and Fulham Football Club, was involved in the negotiations on behalf of Thaksin.

There was no comment from Al-Fayed yesterday.

The website was started by associates of Thaksin and frequently counters criticism against him by the current military-backed government.

ASSOCIATED PRESS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE