Fresh concerns over City takeover

THE credibility of former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s bid to take control of Manchester City was thrown into question yesterday when £830m of his assets were “frozen” by the Thai government.

Shinawatra, living in exile in London after being deposed by a coup in Thailand last year, was seemingly on the brink of making a formal offer to buy control of the Eastlands club. But that could now be in question as doubts arise about whether he has the funds.

It will do nothing to lift the cloud of concern hanging over City, who have been in limbo since the prospect of the deal became known and following the sacking of manager Stuart Pearce.

The situation has not been helped by the takeover saga dragging on for months, with the club’s books being scrutinised by the Shinawatra camp in recent weeks.

But now City have been rocked by the latest problem to hit the former Thai leader, and they are now actively “seeking an explanation” for the current situation.

A spokesman for Shinawatra in London said: “This situation will not singly affect the takeover bid.”

But City fans will now be concerned that the Thai bid will follow the same path as Shinawatra’s previous attempt to buy Liverpool. That deal collapsed after months of prevarication, amid heated objections from Liverpool fans’ groups over Shinawatra’s human rights record when he was in power in Thailand.

A committee investigating claims of corruption yesterday revealed it had ordered accounts worth £830m to be frozen. With City no nearer being able to announce a successor to Pearce, and with the influential Joey Barton and Sylvain Distin having left the club, this latest situation is the last thing hard-pressed club bosses needed.

City’s board have been concerned at the time the deal is taking, and the adverse effect it is having on season ticket sales and the build-up to next season.