Minister cautious over Thai bid

Richard Caborn stepped into the Liverpool bidding war today and stated that clubs have a fundamental duty to try and retain their links with the community.

The British Minister for Sport made his comments as Thailand’s Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra claimed the Anfield board had accepted his £60m (€88.7m) bid to buy a 30% stake.

Liverpool, who last week rejected a rival £73m (€107.9m) bid from building tycoon and lifelong fan Steve Morgan, have refused to comment.

But Caborn appears to be uneasy about the situation.

“Football clubs are a little bit special, they’re part of the community,” he told BBC Radio Five Live.

“So I think it’s incumbent upon football clubs to make sure that they do have those very strong roots into their community.

“That’s where [the club] comes from, that’s where the fans are.

“I think that’s what ought to be considered when any takeover bids or indeed investment into these clubs is being made.”

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 (Liverpool) agreed to give it to us and now we are working on details,” Thaksin told the BBC.

His representatives say they are now on their way to Liverpool to sort out the paperwork.

According to government sources in Thailand, a special lottery is planned to raise the cash needed for the stake.

There is already disquiet in the country, however, with prominent academic Witthayakorn Chiangkoon saying only certain business groups, not the entire nation, would benefit from the deal.

“I can’t see how the people will benefit. It will be the prime minister who wins fame and takes all the credit,” he told the Bangkok Post.

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

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

Morgan aimed to raise £61m (€90.2m) with a rights issue and £12m (€17.7m) through a share issue, but directors branded the plan “unattractive” after a board meeting on Thursday.

Morgan, seen by many as “the people’s champion” said he was baffled by the director’s stance.

But he has yet to clarify what his next move might be, if any.