Ex-Thai PM keeps quiet on Man City plans

Thailand's deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, seen here in January 2007, has kept quiet about reports that he made a surprise 108 million pound offer to buy English Premier League club Manchester City.

Thailand's deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has kept quiet about reports that he made a surprise 108 million pound offer to buy an English Premier League club, his lawyer said Monday.

Noppadol Pattama, Thaksin's spokesman in Bangkok, said that in recent conversations the ousted premier had not said anything about reports regarding the purchase of Manchester City.

"I can not deny nor confirm the report," he said.

Britain's Sun newspaper reported Saturday that Thaksin had made a 108 million pound (215 million dollar) offer to buy the club, including 50 million pounds (99.7 million dollars) to recruit new players.

The reports came as it appeared former City fullback Ray Ranson was set to take over the club.

In 2004, Thaksin led a Thai consortium that tried to purchase a 30 percent stake in Liverpool, angering fans who wanted to keep the team in British hands.

The bid eventually fell through, though Liverpool now has American owners.

Thaksin is a billionaire who made a fortune in telecoms before becoming prime minister in 2000.

His family made 1.9 billion dollars in cash in January 2006 on the sale of his Shin Corp telecom firm. The deal sparked popular unrest that eventually led to the coup that brought down his government in September.