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Published on July 7, 2007

Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday that he had gained effective control of Manchester City and appointed Sven-Goran Eriksson as the English Premier League club's new manager.

Thaksin, who is in Hong Kong, will officially announce today at 5pm Bangkok time that his buyout is complete, his lawyer Noppadon Pattama said.

Thaksin has also called a meeting via videoconference with the Professional Golf Association of Thailand's membership. He was elected president of the association two months ago.

"I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have been asked to be Manchester City's manager," said Eriksson, who took the job a year after stepping down as England coach. "This is an exciting challenge and I have already started making preparations for the new season. I want to deliver a team that our fantastic fans can be proud of."

Thaksin, who is in exile in the United Kingdom after being ousted in a coup, announced on the Plus Markets stock exchange that the Manchester City board and the other shareholders had waived any opposition to his taking over the club through his company, UK Sports Investments Limited (UKSIL).

"UKSIL announces that all conditions relating to the offer have been satisfied or waived," his company said on the exchange. "Accordingly, the offer has been declared unconditional in all respects. The offer will remain open for acceptance until further notice."

Eriksson, who has been at City's training camp with the players for the past two days, is set to sign a three-year deal worth a reported £9 million (Bt616 million) as he bids to transform the ailing club into a title contender.

Manchester City, which last won the league championship in 1968, has not won a major title since 1976 and has been in the shadow of neighbours Manchester United for four decades.

England has had the same lack of success over roughly the same time span, winning nothing since the 1966 World Cup.

In his five-year spell in charge of the national team, Eriksson had the most talented group of players for more than 30 years and failed to get England past the quarter-finals of two World Cups and a European Championship.

But the Swede has had standout success at club level.

Among the 17 titles he collected, Eriksson helped Sweden's IFK Goteborg, Portugal's Benfica and Italy's Lazio capture domestic league and cup doubles. He also guided Lazio to success in the European Cup Winners Cup and a Super Cup victory over Champions League winner Manchester United.

The Premier League campaign starts on August 11 and Eriksson is likely to make major changes to the squad line-up. Sources close to Thaksin have said he will give Eriksson some £50 million to spend in the transfer market.

City, which finished 14th in the 20-club Premier League least season, has already sold Joey Barton to Newcastle and Sylvain Distin to Portsmouth without making any major signings.

The news from the stock exchange means Thaksin will become the eighth foreign owner of a Premier League club.