Thai PM claims Pool deal imminent

THAILAND said that an announcement by English premiership giants Liverpool on Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s bid to buy a stake in the club was imminent and that a signing ceremony could be held at the end of this week.

In the meantime, Thaksin said he was holding talks with representatives of another football club eager to do business with the tycoon turned premier.

Thaksin said he would meet with ministers and officials ahead of the expected reply from Liverpool's board.

"We are meeting to get prepared so that we can get to work immediately if they agree," Thaksin said, adding that he had not increased his offer to the club.

Thaksin has offered to buy a 30% stake in Liverpool in a bid worth some stg£65 million which could also involve marketing rights for Asia and the establishment of a football academy in Thailand.

"We have not received the answer yet," Thaksin said last night. "It might reach us within this week."

Deputy Commerce Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, who is Thaksin's point man on the deal, had earlier said Liverpool's answer was expected in the early evening, Thai time, after the Liverpool board met at the club chairman's house.

Pongsak said that if Liverpool agreed to the deal, Thailand planned to sign a memorandum of understanding at the end of the week.

"The signing and the official announcement is expected to take place Friday, in England and in Thailand," he said.

Pongsak said that if the deal was agreed yesterday the cabinet would look at the proposal today.

Thaksin also strongly hinted yesterday his attentions to Premiership football were not exclusively aimed at Liverpool.

"There is another team in the league which has expressed their interest in joining up with Thailand, because they see Thailand's potential," Thaksin told reporters before heading into discussions with executives from another team which he declined to name.

"Whether we buy (into Liverpool) or not, we benefit because people around the world will know Thailand," Thaksin said.

Pongsak confirmed that football executives were entering talks in Bangkok with the premier, but described it as an "unofficial meeting".

Government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said Sunday that Thaksin would approach another premiership club if the current bid failed.

"It is not just Liverpool we are interested in. Our desire is to pursue any British soccer team," he said.

"We are still pursuing Liverpool. There is someone in Britain who initiated the meeting between the club and the prime minister so there is mutual interest it was not a one-sided approach."

Thaksin has insisted that state funds will not be used to pay for the deal, but that the government will handle the financing, possibly through a share offer or public subscription.

Thaksin's chances of success appeared to increase last week after Liverpool rebuffed a rival offer from local businessman Steve Morgan, a long-standing critic of the current board, worth some stg£73m.