"Don't worry: the money that we plan to use to work with Manchester City I got permission to bring from Thailand a long time ago," Thaksin said in an interview with the Manchester Evening News website.

"Bringing that money out of Thailand had been planned several months before this thing happened. In addition, I have friends all over the world I can ask for credit from until I get the justice system to unfreeze my money."

A total of Bt57.8 billion of his and his family's assets in Thailand was frozen by orders of the Assets Examination Committee on June 11.

In his latest assets declaration on November 14 to the National Counter Corruption Commission, Thaksin reported his bank accounts held Bt509 million. His wife, Khunying Pojaman, reported her bank accounts held Bt3.48 billion.

But while City fans were relieved the club would now be able to move on after weeks of delay in takeover talks, many remain concerned that the new owner's troubles in his home country may disrupt the club.

Thaksin said: "Please tell the fans that the events in Thailand are not happening in a democratic way. I was a democratically elected leader ousted by a military dictator. Now everything in Thailand is under a military dictatorship. It will be back to normal when democracy returns to Thailand in December. I hope that justice will prevail after that, but everything they do is politically motivated.

"The money I have is money that the whole family earned over more than 20 years by working hard. They said that I have made that money through corruption. That is ridiculous."

The exiled leader is facing a corruption probe and allegations of human-rights abuse in Thailand, where as prime minister he initiated a war on drugs in which 2,500 people died.

He insists he is innocent of charges laid against him by political opponents among the current military leadership and is confident he will eventually be cleared.

Thaksin, who fled to Britain last year after being deposed in a military coup, had his £81.6-million (Bt5.6-billion) offer for the English club accepted on Thursday.

This came hours after prosecutors in Thailand laid formal criminal-corruption charges against him on the Ratchadaphisek land deal in 2003.

Thaksin told Sky Sports television he had to pass the test of being a "fit and proper person" to own a club organised by the Premier League, which runs English football's top division.

"I passed a test in the taking-over process," he said.

"I had gone through so many questions. I think this is a very good system that I really like, even if I had to go through such a long process."

"It should have been finished two or three weeks ago, but I still like the system," he told the broadcaster.

Thaksin said he wanted City fans to call him "Mr Sinatra", a corrupted version of his surname, because it would be easier for them to pronounce than "Shinawatra".

"I understand people have difficulty pronouncing my surname. So just call me Sinatra," Thaksin told the British media. "They [the City fans] can shout 'Sinatra' to call me at the stadium. I don't care as long as they treat me as one of them," he said.

According to the Manchester Evening News Thaksin, 57, a former policeman who made his fortune in telecommunications, became the first foreign owner in City's 127-year history as he completed the takeover yesterday.

Thaksin, who first became interested in buying City last December, admitted the process had taken longer than even he had expected.

But having acquired 55 per cent of the club's shares, a figure he expects to rise to 75 per cent during the next month, he is now concentrating his energies on making Sven-Goran Eriksson City's next manager.

He confirmed that he and his advisers had been in talks with former England coach Eriksson but that no final decision had been reached.

If he accepts, it will make Eriksson the highest-paid boss in City's history on an annual salary of £2m. However, Blackburn boss Mark Hughes and Sevilla's Juan de Ramos remain on the short list if he turns the Blues down.

Thaksin is expected to spend up to £50m on new players. He added: "If necessary it may cost £50m, it may cost £30m or it may cost £20m. I will leave recruitment to my advisers, but I know we need two strikers, two midfielders and maybe some others.

"When you want effectiveness you drive for the target, and that is my style. strong leadership, not dictatorship."

Thaksin followed City's fortunes closely on television last season but said he would attend every game in person next season if he remained in the United Kingdom.

"If I stay in the UK, I will attend every match," he said. "If not, I will attend every game I can. I think we have the room to improve the club, because we can bring in a new coach and new players. They have a good team, and we can add more strikers and midfielders to create a better team."

He added: "The club's lease on the City of Manchester Stadium is for 250 years. I said I will do the contract extension myself in the next life!"