Shinawatra poised to make bid?

Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's exiled former prime minister,
is close to making a formal bid for Manchester City, the UK football club, and
is understood to have identified a new manager for the Premier League
side.
An announcement from both parties is expected "within days" according
to people close to the deal.
Bangkok’s media has been speculating as to
whether Mr Thaksin, who was de­posed in a military coup last year, would be
able to release funds held in local banks. But it is understood that Mr Thaksin
is funding the bid from private assets and has lodged monies for the bid with
his financial advisers, to the satisfaction of Manchester’s board.