Sam Allardyce's prospects of becoming Manchester Citys
next manager have been thrown into doubt because a former Prime
Minister of Thailand has emerged as the front-runner to take over
the club. Thaksin Shinawatra, who failed in attempts to buy into
Liverpool, is preparing to make a preliminary offer to the City
board as early as this week in direct rivalry to the £90 million
deal fronted by former player Ray Ranson. Allardyce, who has three
years left on his contract at Bolton, is believed to have been told
that the job is his if Ransons bid succeeds.
But it now appears he may have to convince Shinawatra that he is
the man to lead a new regime. Allardyce did not attend the
post-match Press conference following Boltons 2-2 draw at Chelsea
yesterday. His assistant, Sammy Lee, said: Sams not well. He
didnt travel with the team.
Of reports that Allardyce had already quit Bolton, Lee said: It is
only speculation. We have a great bunch of players and the
speculation wont affect them. Were desperate to make the UEFA Cup
place. We just wanted that point today.
Shinawatras proposals are understood to trump the money on the
table from Ranson and funds have already been lodged with an
investment bank. If the City board look at Shinawatras plans and
believe he is a credible investor, they will allow him and his bank
to conduct due diligence on the clubs books with a view to making
a formal offer to shareholders.
While City manager Stuart Pearce will not be impressed by the
intrigue behind the scenes, he has long been thought likely to
leave the club this summer and become full-time coach of Englands
Under-21 team. Pearce and the City board rowed about him combining
his job at the club with the part-time role, and the FAs
determination to make it a full-time post offers a convenient
solution.
For City chairman John Wardle and his fellow directors, the bigger
challenge has been to find an investor to transform the club, about
£50m in debt, from relegationthreatened also-rans into
contenders.
The Ranson proposal is not popular with most of the board. There
are worries that his backers, Sisu Capital Private Equity Fund,
would be more interested in a quick profit than Citys long-term
development.
