Thaksin won´t quit City claims chairman

AFP - 25 August 2008 12:40

The controversy surrouding Thaksin Shinawatra, seen here in July 2008, is committed to the club despite speculation over his financial muscle raised by corruption charges in Thailand, club chairman Garry Cooke has said.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is committed to the club despite speculation over his financial muscle raised by corruption charges in Thailand, club chairman Garry Cooke said on Monday.

The former Thai Prime Minister is taking refuge in England after refusing to return to answer the charges against him and Cooke insisted Thaksin was not looking for a buyer for City.

He told BBC Radio Manchester: "When these things get thrown at you, you actually try that much harder.

"He (Thaksin) is even more adamant now, because this is his love, and he wants to show people he is really committed.

"I asked the question as well as everyone else - `is the club for sale?' and he is quite adamant this club is not for sale and he is here for the long haul.

"I asked `why did you buy it?'. He said he bought it because there is a 10-year plan."

With Thaksin and members of his family looking on, City claimed a 3-0 victory against West Ham on Sunday thanks to a brace from Elano after Daniel Sturridge had made the breakthrough.

Micah Richards has been released from hospital following a sickening aerial collision with City team-mate Tal Ben Haim.

The England defender was left concussed after the clash a minute into the second half but fears about a neck injury have been allayed following a scan.

Richards, who was treated on the pitch for eight minutes before regaining consciousness in the tunnel, will now be regularly checked by doctors over the next few days.

However he looks certain to miss the UEFA Cup match against FC Midtjylland in Denmark on Thursday when City are aiming to overturn a 1-0 deficit.