Club end Thailand association

Manchester City have closed their Thailand operations following former owner and ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's sale of the club, ending City's ambitious plan to become "Asia's Premier League team". Jimmy Heosontaty, City's former representative in Thailand, said a plan for an academy had been abandoned and the club's merchandise shop, launched to great fanfare last year, had closed due to a lack of interest.

"We saw no point in carrying on after the [Shinawatra] family sold their share," said Heosontaty today. "City still have fans here, but there's not a lot of interest any more."

>>guardian.co.uk

The club recently announced the addition of a 'Brand and Marketing manager', with the intention of really driving forward the clubs profile around the world.

I don't think Thailand would have been the most lucrative market as it was, but without the link to or involvement with Thaksin, even more so.

Thaksin returns to Thailand

The former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra flew back home today for the first since he was ousted in a coup 17 months ago, and immediately surrendered to immigration police who arrested him on corruption charges.
Within minutes of stepping off a Thai Airways flight from Hong Kong, the billionaire tycoon emerged from Bangkok airport's VIP reception area, knelt down and placed his forehead on the ground.
Thousands of supporters who had gathered at the airport - some waiting overnight - cheered, sang and waved placards proclaiming: "We Love Thaksin". Looking emotional he moved to the front of his entourage and offered a traditional Thai bow, hands clasped in respect.
Police whisked him off in convoy of limousines to the supreme court to answer the corruption charge over a land deal while he was in office. He was quickly bailed for 8m baht (£132,000) pending the first hearing next month, and barred from leaving the country without the court's permission.

>>The Guardian.

Considering the column inches some of the previous news regarding his legal issues received, there has not been a great amount of coverage of Thaksin's arrest yesterday, largely I believe because whilst Thaksin being arrested would at one stage have been headline news, him being arrested on arrival in Thailand was hardly him being bundled away following a dawn raid.

In fact, his arrest turned more into a welcome home party, accompanied by political allies and drinking champagne before falling to his knees and kissing the ground upon arrival. Quite what Kelvin Etuhu and Kaspar Schmeichel made of it all in their capacity as designated 'coaches' - a strange move given the stage of the season we are at.

He also found time to give an interview to Reuters, outlining his plans to take the club to the next level and become a truly global player, and Sven was very much on side as well, giving his backing to his boss and the support he has received - particularly in the transfer market:

"Every time I meet him and the people working for him, it is the same. They want City to be bigger and better. He wants to create one of the biggest clubs in the world - and I hope that happens, of course."

The return home for Thaksin was clearly a well-planned and choreographed move, and despite him still having opponents in the country, it is clear that the charges he will face are not going to lead to him serving time in jail, and it will be extremely likely that the frozen assets will be duly returned - although not without some political manouevering and show.

This has become likely because - referring to this article in the Independent, as it appears the AEC (Asset Examination Committee) are facing difficulties in trying to make the charges stick - not least because they rely on funding from the government to operate, a government of course who (following the elections at the end of 2007) are pro-Thaksin and there are reports the AEC could well be dissolved, seeing Thaksin walk free. As one academic commentator stated "The military junta had a year to prosecute Thaksin and didn't. Their chance has gone."

The outcome does appear to be going entirely to plan for Thaksin, and is hardly a surprising outcome as he was not going to return from exile unless conditions were favourable for him to do so.

Whilst he is almost certain not to be convicted of the charges levelled against him, the Independent article does suggest it may not be entirely straightforward for him to see his entire assets released immediately.

As it was fantastically put, the newly-elected government will be wary of appearing to be too pro-Thaksin, not wanting to allow Thaksin to simply "walk straight up to a cashpoint and withdraw the lot", and I expect there to be a display of public bargaining before his assets are freed up, allowing him get on with his next stage of plans for the club.

Which could make things even more interesting.

Thaksin to return from exile

The Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is expected to return from exile to Thailand tomorrow in an attempt to clear his name.

"I think and I believe that Thaksin will return on the 28th," said the Thai foreign minister Noppadon Pattama of the country's former prime minister, who was ousted in a bloodless 2006 coup and is wanted on a corruption charge relating to his wife's purchase of a prime piece of Bangkok real estate while in office.

>>The Guardian.

Thaksin allies victorious in Thai elections

ALLIES of Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra have declared victory in the Thai elections. The PPP captured 233 of 480 seats in the lower house of parliament to win Sunday’s national election, it was announced. The rival Democrat Party was second with 165 seats, while the Chart Thai Party finished third with 37. The victorious People’s Power Party (PPP) is attempting to attract smaller parties to form a coalition government. Dr Thaksin lives in exile in London and the populist billionaire, ousted in a military coup last year, would face numerous hurdles if he attempts a comeback to political power. Dr Thaksin announced he will “explore options” about returning home in April at the latest. Speaking in Hong Kong, Thaksin said he would not resume a political career but stood ready to advise the PPP, made up of stalwarts from his outlawed Thai Rak Thai party.

-MEN.

There is plenty of in-depth analysis of the Thai elections from The Times, Channel 4, Independent, The Age and BBC, and one issue - or rather person, dominates the outcome - Thaksin Shinawatra.

Essentially, the PPP - formed from the ashes of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party hold sway in Thailand having secured just short of a majority in the vote. Undoubtedly the presence or influence of Shinawatra was a factor, with the PPP targetting the same voters as Shinawatra did in previous elections.

The biggest question now is probably 'What next?', as to form a government the PPP need to form a coalition with one of the other parties - something which hasn't been too forthcoming in the immediate aftermath of the election.

But whilst we may all hold a pressing desire to know what the political landscape in Thailand now looks like, probably for most City fans the effect this may have on the club and its future is maybe higher on the list of priorities.

It seems that every scenario ranging from he will return to Thailand a hero leaving City in the lurch to his assets will be unfrozen and billions will pour into the coffers in time for the January transfer window, and Thad Williamson raises some of the more pertinent questions in a post, paraphrased below:

1. What will happen to the court cases against Thaksin, which the Democrat Party still wants to see prosecuted in full?

2. Is Thaksin really capable of returning to Thailand and (after the initial splash of publicity) keeping a low profile, refraining from over-obvious political activity?

3. What are Thaksin’s long-term aims? Does he simply want to get his name cleared, his money unfrozen, and his ability to business restored? Is he happy to see out his days as a patron of sport?

4. If he does clear his name and get his money back, will he maintain continued interest in owning Manchester City? (The guess here is yes, for the time being.)

5. Will the investigation into the 2003 war on drugs initiated by the military government proceed under the new government, or simply be pushed to the background?

My gut feeling regarding the situation (and I am by no means knowledgeable regarding Thai politics) is that, like the issues of charges brought against him over the past six months, it will have little overall effect on the club in the short term.

Whilst the situation may now be favourable for a return, he has plenty of enemies still in Thailand and should he have any aspirations to go back in some political capacity, he would be extremely foolish to do so at this stage.

Far more likely is that he will continue with his 'day to day' business of being at the helm of the club, with substantial money undoubedly handed out if Sven so decides between now and the end of January. He has also put in too much time, money and initiatives to simply walk away at this stage - not to mention the impressive start the club has made under his tenure has surely done for his profile.

A high political profile is not likely given the still unstable situation, but a return to the country is likely - but I would have thought initially it will be a well choreographed and stage managed visit at this stage.

I also think the issue the pending charges against him (and his family) will remain 'as is' at the moment, being as it will be a political hot potato and any government formed would open themselves up to accusation should the charges be conventiently tossed aside.

So, as it stands, I don't believe much has changed in the life of Manchester City as far as Thaksin Shinawatra is concerned, but where the club and the country of Thailand are linked going forward is if Thaksin does express a desire to actively get back into political life - here is where the problems would undoubtedly begin.

Generosity or a PR stunt?

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Manchester City's billionaire Thai
owner Thaksin Shinawatra will pay for his country's national team squad to train
with his club to help their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Thaksin, the
coup-ousted former Thai prime minister, will bring the entire Thai squad to
Manchester for 11 days next month and will foot the lion's share of the bill,
Thailand's soccer president said on Tuesday.

"If we want to go to the
World Cup, this is what we have to do," Worawi Makudi told
Reuters.
"Manchester City are keen to help us, they signed some of our
players and they are happy to pay for our preparation."
Thailand, who have
never reached the World Cup finals, have been drawn with Japan, Oman and Bahrain
in the third round of Asian qualifiers.
Thaksin's critics say his $164
million takeover and his club's sudden interest in Thai players -- three of
which they recently signed -- are attempts to maintain a high profile in
soccer-mad Thailand with a view to returning to office.
The exiled tycoon
insists he has quit politics, although a party run by his supporters is expected
to win next month's general election, although not with an outright
majority.

-reuters.com

Perhaps a coincidence, but the Good Doctor has certainly been active with a series of goodwill gestures with the elections in Thailand now imminent.

Whilst not standing for office directly, maintaining a high (and popular) profile will undoubtedly help the party run by his supporters if they are playing the 'Thaksin card' during campaigning. And with charges still hanging over him, it will surely do no harm if the current regime in Thailand are removed from office.

I think Thaksin has certainly been impressive in how he has gone about things with the club since taking over, and accusations of human rights violations have not gone further than some mud slinging from various groups no doubt seizing a bit of publicity for themselves.

I do believe he has a genuine long term interest in the club, and it isn't a short term or get rich quick scheme for him, but there are valid concerns regarding how we may be used in any political manouevering. What I think would make for an interesting time of things, and perhaps concerning, is if the Thaksin's supporters do indeed gain control of the country.

I admit it doesn't sit easy with me the fact that Thaksin may well be utilising our start to the season and increased profile to further either his or his supporters political aspirations. Upto this point, there hasn't been anything concrete which has backed by the naysayers claims but we are definitely beginning to see an increase in Thaksin's profile back in his homeland.

More trouble for Shinawatra

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has had a second
set of arrest warrants issued against him. The former Thai prime minister and his wife are the subject of a
police inquiry into the couple's alleged violation of stock-trading
laws. Last month saw the country's Supreme Court issue a first warrant
after the pair failed to return home to answer corruption charges relating to a
land sale. The DSI said a second warrant had been sought as the couple had
repeatedly failed to appear in Bangkok to hear the charges.

-Channel4.com

The second set of charges brought against Shinawatra, and there could be the possibility of further charges brought should he (and his wife) continue to stay in the UK and away from Thailand. As with the first set of charges however, although there has been no response from Shinawatra or his lawyers it remains unlikely that he would head back to Thailand anytime soon.

Related Shinawatra links:

Newsnight feature, Amnesty International paper, Wikipedia entry.

Thai's on trial

Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who took full
control of Manchester City on Monday, has arranged trials for three Thai
national team players at the English Premier League club.
Defenders Suree
Sukha and Kiatprawut Saiwaeo and striker Teerasil Dangda will train with the
team in Manchester next week, Thai soccer officials said on
Wednesday.
Teerasil, 19, and Kiatprawut, 21, made their senior national team
debuts at the Asian Cup earlier this month, where co-hosts Thailand failed to
advance from the group stage.
Attacking fullback Suree, 24, has been a
regular for the national team since 2005.

-retuers.

At this stage I can safely say I know nothing about any of the three players, but suggestions of Thai players being brought to the club and straight into the first team appear unfounded as the move (initially) is on a trial basis only and I would be surprised if any of them has the ability (at this stage) to get anywhere near a first team spot.