However, The Nation's reference to the "Thaksinisation of England" is unthinkable: he has neither the power, personality nor influence to make any social mark in England whatsoever, except maybe for the introduction of Thai food in a northern football stadium at the expense of vindaloo.

And with his doubtful choice of manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, and a budget for firebrand Europeans, City may, in its darkest hour, yet come out of the doldrums even if Sven's benches are occupied by a consignment of the Thai national team wishing to compete with the likes of John Terry in the air.

In all likelihood, it seems that it will take a very long time before Thaksin is "convicted" of his alleged crimes. Even though he has to pass the Football Association's test of being a "fit and proper" owner, even though he must sign a "director's declaration" stating whether he has been convicted of fraud, theft, corruption or associated offences, the plain fact is that, for now, he hasn't.

It is in some ways understandable that City has taken this leap of faith for a man like Thaksin, because they are desperately indebted and even a sizeable proportion of the fans have waived the morality issue in favour of seeing their team perform.

But sooner or later it will come to pass that his convictions may be secured. In such a scenario, the club would be debarred from competing in the league until its association with the individual is terminated. This clause could lead to Thaksin's immediate resignation and his children taking over. The man himself has little passion and expertise in managing a Premiership club, but the thought of his offspring as owners is truly risible - in a ludicrous and rather depressing way.

James Groveway

Bangkok

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'Fit and proper' not the way many regard ex-PM

The question whether Thaksin Shinawatra is a "fit and proper person" to own Manchester City Football Club is the same as the question, "Does Manchester City want to facilitate money-laundering?"

The answer is easier than a penalty kick while the goalie is tying his shoes.

Netirat Intira

Bangkok

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Brit football fans struck with a case of 'Thaksinitis'

Re: "Maewchester City", News, June 22.

What sad news. Have the Brits gone bonkers? The sun has truly set on the British Empire. Do they really need to stoop so

low?

After leaving Thailand in shambles, "Thaksinitis" has now spread quickly in Britain and gone straight for the jugular. He is taking away one of the few remaining pleasures that I, and many others like me, have in life and that is watching English Premier League football.

From now on, how can we be sure that referees have not been bought, players not drugged, managers not bribed? Hooligans will be put on monthly retainers. Is that free beer I see being sloshed around? Passions will rise and decadence will reign. Is that Panthongtae I see in the directors' box? And who is that giggling beside him? Oh my god.

Crazed Manchester City fans will soon be slugging it out with deeply offended Manchester United fans on the streets of a divided city. I wager that it will take less than five years for darkness to descend on the beautiful game in England.

The City of Manchester stadium will become the world's largest launderette. My dear English friends, welcome to the club!

Prapa Thepchat

Bangkok

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Pojaman's bid to delay hearing unacceptable

Re: "Pojaman claims illness, seeks third postponement", News, June 20.

The story read: "A lawyer for Pojaman Shinawatra, wife of deposed prime minister Thaksin, asked the Assets Examination Committee [AEC] yesterday to postpone for one month a hearing in which she is due to testify on the Shin Corp sale to Temasek of Singapore." It continues: "AEC spokesman Sak Korsaengrueng said on June 6 that Pojaman could face up to six months in jail if she failed to turn up to testify yesterday." It is time for Sak to do what he said.

It is time for the AEC to act in this matter and stop with its soft-hearted approach. It doesn't work. Pojaman should not be allowed to put off her testimony for one more month. She should not be allowed to put it off for one more hour or minute. She is in contempt of the AEC, and the legal process should apply to her.

Web Reader

Bangkok

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Editorial offered valuable insights for Army's future

Re: "Army overhaul long overdue", Editorial, June 23.

Thank you very much for your editorial of today highlighting the gross incompetence of our top-heavy armed forces, particularly the way they are handling the situation in the deep South, where they cannot even look after their own welfare let alone keep citizens from harm's way.

You do not have to read classic texts of military strategy to realise that what our military and police forces are doing is nothing but a joke on par with that shameful time when our forces were beaten by the Laotians at Ban Romklao in 1989, as mentioned in your editorial, and as known by all Thais.

Let's just hope that our present and future armed forces officers of all ranks will be brave enough to admit their failures and start acting like true professional soldiers before there is nothing left for them to defend!

Vic Phanumphai

Bangkok

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'Tea-money' schools adept at avoiding detection

Re: "Minister moves to end 'tea money' for school places", News, June 18.

I read this article with amazement. This practice by schools (mind you, all over the country), especially those schools with a better reputation, to collect, demand or solicit "tea money" is nothing new at all. It has been happening for ages. Were these tea-money collections crimes? If so, why have the school administrators not been prosecuted? Why has this practice been allowed to carry on?

Also, I know of a school that will accept "tea money" for a student's place but the money has to be paid to an "association" appointed by that school and they even offer a receipt for the tea money!

They will say that the money will go towards new computers for the school. Legally the school did not do anything wrong as it did not receive any money directly. But this so-called "association" in question dictates who gets admitted to the school and it is a government school by the way! At Bt45,000 a place, and every year they bloat up their school by a class or two. Now that is big business.

Somsak Tan

Bangkok

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Carter's proclamations on Hamas sully his legacy

Jimmy Carter would have us believe that Palestinian discord in Gaza is of the West's own making, and that Hamas's truculent, intolerant essence might somehow be subsumed into a more amenable Palestinian majority if only we would show it more favour.

This defies history, reason and Hamas's own charter to a degree that would warrant no reply - were it not that the former president's views are showcased by news media forever eager to undermine the Bush Administration.

American and European Union policy denies Hamas funding extended to their less extreme Fatah rival. Such rare trans-Atlantic accord exists for simple reasons: among other things, Hamas rejects any future in which Israel is allowed to live or in which Palestinians themselves taste basic freedoms common to liberal democracies.

While ill-considered pronouncements by Carter further his standing among malcontents of the political left, they sap chances for eventual Middle East peace. It seems a sad commentary on his late-life values that Jimmy Carter now so visibly covets the former even at the peril of the latter.

Ron Goodden

Atlanta