Shinawatra deal on track
25 May 2007 - 10:22:47
Thaksin Shinawatra is on target to complete his takeover of Manchester City by early June, according to the former Thai premier's lawyer.
Shinawatra is believed to be the frontrunner to complete a takeover at Eastlands ahead of ex-player Ray Ranson and an unnamed American consortium.
Shinawatra - a former policeman who rose to political prominence in Thailand before being ousted in a coup - was granted permission to look at the club's accounts at the beginning of May as his £100million buyout gathered pace.
The now London-based former politician has also reportedly been shown around the club's City of Manchester Stadium and training ground.
"Everything is going smoothly," Shinawatra lawyer Noppadon Pattama told the Reuters.
"We hope the deal will be formally concluded by early June."
Should Shinawatra complete his takeover then he is expected to install former Chelsea and now Parma coach Claudio Ranieri as the club's new manager.
Former boss Stuart Pearce was axed earlier in the month following a disappointing Premier League campaign which saw the Citizens finish in 14th place.
