Citizens face Shinawatra wait
25 Jun 2007 - 07:36:46
Manchester City may have to wait up to 21 days for Thaksin Shinawatra's takeover of the club to be completed, according to the man who brokered the deal.
Keith Harris, executive chairman of Seymour Pierce Investment, claims it could be another three weeks before the former Thai prime minister's £86.1million buyout of the club is fully completed.
That would leave Shinawatra's reported number one choice for manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, little time to rebuild his squad before the new Premier League season kicks of on August 11.
"An offer document for the takeover bid will come out in the next couple of days," Harris told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek programme.
"The takeover could be completed three days after that, or as long as 21 days after that."
Meanwhile, Harris expects Eriksson to be appointed even before Shinawatra's takeover at Eastlands is given the green light.
"There is a fair chance that Eriksson will take the job and the important thing is that Eriksson is highly respected by England's players," he continued.
"They all hold him in high regard. Manchester City's academy has been successful in bringing through young England players, so it would knit well in that respect.
"Manchester City want to attract a high-quality manager who can in turn attract high quality players. Sven-Goran Eriksson is on the list of candidates but we don't know if he will accept.
"But the important thing is that a good-quality manager is chosen and that a manager who wants the job takes it in the next couple of days."