Shinawatra steps up stake
28 Jun 2007 - 09:28:11
Thaksin Shinawatra and Sven-Goran Eriksson have moved a step closer to taking office at Manchester City after the former Thai prime minister purchased a further 9.88 per cent of the club's shares.
Shinawatra, who is rapidly closing in on a full takeover at Eastlands, took his stake in the club up to 65.78 per cent following his latest acquisition through vehicle company UK Sports Investments Ltd.
The latest batch of 5,343,622 shares is believed to have been purchased from broadcasters BSkyB.
Former England coach Eriksson has already agreed a three-year contract to become the Citizens' new boss and will reportedly be appointed when Shinawatra takes his holding above the 75 per cent mark required to de-list the club from the Stock Exchange.
Meanwhile, Shaun Wright-Phillips will not be returning to the City of Manchester Stadium if Eriksson takes over as manager, according to his father Ian Wright.
Wright has revealed his son was shattered by Eriksson's decision to drop him from the England squad on the eve of last summer's World Cup.
"No, it's not happening. I know he loves Manchester City. Whether he loves Manchester City with Sven in charge is another story," he told TalkSport.
"It hasn't gone as well as he would have liked at Chelsea, everyone knows that. But he has to see how his options go, see what he's going to do with Chelsea for a start.
"But I would categorically say the chances of Shaun going back to City, with Eriksson as their manager, are very, very slim. Majorly slim in fact."
Wright-Phillips left City for Chelsea in a £21million transfer two years ago.
