Thaksin: The man with perfect timing

Some say that he is still the owner and is using the group as a front, while others believe buying and selling for profit is normal business practice. Still, it appears as if Thaksin timed this sale perfectly.

According to British newspaper Daily Mail, Thaksin, who remains on the City board as honorary president, made more than 50 million pounds (Bt3 billion) by selling the club to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan.

It was reported that when Thaksin bought City in last June, he had ploughed £80 million of his own cash into the club. But later it became clear that his initial investment was actually significantly lower.

Still, according to the Canadian Press website, Premier League's chief executive Richard Scudamore pressured Thaksin to sell the club.

"Don't underestimate the role football authorities have played in that [the sale]," Scudamore said.

Apparently Scudamore was reacting to Football Association chairman David Triesman's concerns about whether the league's "fitandproper persons" test was reliable enough to judge potential English football club owners. Triesman was also concerned whether the top English team would be forced into bankruptcy.

The issue came to the fore when Thaksin was allowed to buy Manchester City despite the loud noises raised by human rights groups, who blamed the exPM of abuse during his time in power.

Besides, Thaksin was also advised to give up ownership because he and his wife, Khunying Pojaman, were fleeing a string of corruption cases. Pojaman was sentenced to three years in jail for tax evasion, and was released on bail.

Scudamore said the "fitandproper persons" test was reliable because a number of people had previously failed and were stopped from owning Premier League clubs.

Thaksin would fail the "fitandproper person" test anyway if he is found guilty in the Ratchadaphisek land purchase case, which hits the court next Tuesday.

So perhaps, this was the perfect time for him to save his face and make a few millions.

FOR THE SAKE OF THE FAMILY

The anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy has been continuously pushing the government to revoke former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's diplomatic red passport.

So, Thaksin decided to do the job himself and sent the document to the Foreign Ministry, all to reduce the pressure on his brother-in-law PM Somchai Wongsawat, a source said.

Red passports are usually issued to former premiers and foreign ministers, which give them certain diplomatic privileges while travelling overseas.