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He is facing four charges in the Supreme Court, all of which he denies, with verdicts expected in September. A single conviction, however, would prompt fresh scrutiny under the Premier League's fit-and-proper-persons test.

A Premier League spokesman told Crain's: "It is an ongoing test. We will look into it. If there are developments, we will look at them."

Under Premier League rules, UK convictions for fraud, corruption or tax evasion, or "like offences" in foreign courts, mean that a football club director or shareholder would no longer be considered a fit and proper person.

Once deemed not fit and proper, a director or owner has to be asked by the Premier League to resign from the board and give up his financial interest in the club.

If the person fails to resign and the club fails to remove him, rule D10 says the Premier League board "shall have power" to suspend the club from the competition.

Although the test has been in place for a number of years, no owner has yet been asked to sell his stake in a club.

The Premier League said it could only take action over convictions, not allegations.

Asked whether Thaksin would be asked to give up his shareholding in the club if convicted, a Premier League spokesman added: "We are talking hypothetically at the moment. We would have to look at that situation and examine the law books. We would have to seek legal counsel to see what is reasonable and permissible."

Thaksin passed the fit-and-proper-persons test when he bought the club last year.

FA-registered lawyer Lindsey Bell, of JMW Solicitors in Manchester, said: "They are going to have to look at it. If he is convicted and if the offences are similar to the schedule of offences, I think he would be disqualified. With a high-profile matter like this, they would have to be seen to be doing the right thing."

Bell said Thaksin may argue that the Thai court was not "competent" because the charges were brought for political reasons. Four charges against Thaksin are now being considered by the Supreme Court.

Two new ones added last week involve allegations of malfeasance in relation to a government lottery and allegations that the former prime minister arranged soft loans while in office to enable the Burmese military dictatorship to buy telecommunications equipment from his Shin Corp conglomerate.

Other Supreme Court charges include the alleged abuse of power for the benefit of family businesses and a charge that he helped his wife Pojaman buy government land in central Bangkok for a third of its value.

Thaksin and his wife deny any wrongdoing and insist all charges against them are politically motivated.