Liverpool accept my bid, says Thai PM

Thailand’s Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra claims Liverpool have accepted his £60m (€88m) bid to buy a 30 per cent stake in the club.

The Liverpool board have to choose between Thaskin’s offer and a rival £73m (€107m) bid from building tycoon and lifelong fan Steve Morgan.

David Moores, whose family has had control of Liverpool for half a century, owns 51% of the club and television company Granada have a 9.9% share.

The board have claimed Morgan’s offer does not represent the true value of the club.

Morgan aimed to raise £61m (€89.7m) with a rights issue and £12m (€17.6m) through a share issue, but directors branded the plan “unattractive” after a board meeting on Thursday.

Thaksin, a billionaire telecoms tycoon before he turned to politics, has said he wants to promote Thai football and employ Liverpool coaches to lift the lacklustre national game up to international standards.

“In principle they agreed to give it to us and now we are working on details,” Thaksin told the BBC.

Spokesman Santiparb Tejavanija said: “I am flying to Liverpool tonight. Our proposal has been approved.”

Santiparb, whose Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) was appointed by Thaksin to work on the details of the investment, added: “What I will sign in England would be something of a memorandum of understanding or letter of intent.

“After that we will work on the legal details of the investment.”

Thailand's dubious human rights record has prompted criticism of Liverpool's willingness to do business with Thaksin.

But the deal would provide a financial boost for the club, allowing them to compete with the Premiership’s richest clubs, buy new players, and help finance an £80m (€117.7m) proposed new stadium in Stanley Park.

Thaksin’s motivation appears less clear, however. His representatives say it is because of a love of the game, while more cynical voices have said it may be to boost his political popularity in the soccer-mad nation.