Manchester City Football Club News

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:48,000

City takeover set for Tuesday

21 Sep 2008 - 15:15:07

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Manchester City have announced that the takeover of the club by a group led by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed will be formally completed on Tuesday.

The Citizens have already signalled their intention to become one of the Premier League's big-hitters following their £33million British record transfer signing of Brazilian Robinho courtesy of funds provided by the Abu Dhabi United Group.

And now following a process of due diligence, the group are now ready to complete the purchase of the club from Thaksin Shinawatra.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Manchester City and watching the team progress in such a short space of time," the former Thai prime minister said in a statement.

"When I bought Manchester City the club had been languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League and had an uncertain future.

"We invested in new talent and management and have been delighted by the success that has brought to the club."

Shinawatra will remain involved at Eastlands as the club's honorary president, while Khaldoon Al Mubarak will become the new chairman (designate).

Speaking of his decision to sell the club, Shinawatra added: "My financial position has changed in the last 15 months and I thus felt it was in the best interests of everyone associated with the club that I hand over the reins to new owners who share similar ambitions and visions to my own for Manchester City.

"I am flattered that they have asked me to remain with the club as honorary president and I look forward to attending as many matches as I can and watching the new owners build on the platform we have established in the last 15 months."