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Holding court with a group of journalists less than a fortnight ago, Garry
Cook was almost laughed out of the room when the Manchester City executive
chairman suggested that the club could become the global equal of their
sworn rivals, Manchester United, in the next ten years. No one is mocking
Cook any more.
The butt of many a joke only a matter of weeks ago as the full extent of
Thaksin Shinawatra’s personal and financial problems emerged, City’s world
has been turned on its head in the space of 24 mind-boggling hours as the
former Prime Minister of Thailand prepares to sell the club to Arab royalty
with wealth that dwarfs even that of Roman Abramovich. The arrival of
Abramovich at Chelsea five years ago changed the landscape of English
football, but the impending involvement of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi at
City threatens to transcend even the enormity of the Russian’s achievements
in West London.
City fans may have every reason to be sceptical, even if most will have awoken
yesterday believing that they had won the lottery. It was only this time
last year that Thaksin was being trumpeted as the club’s saviour.
Fourteen months on and he is seeking political asylum in Britain as he refuses
to answer corruption charges in his homeland, his assets frozen as a
consequence, but the latest chapter in the colourful and turbulent history
of one of English football’s perennial underachieving clubs promises to be
altogether different.
City supporters got a glimpse of what the future may hold yesterday when the
club lodged bids in excess of £60 million for Dimitar Berbatov and Robinho,
but as Dr Sulaiman AlFahim, the high-profile Middle East businessman leading
the takeover revealed in an interview with The Times, that promises to be
just the tip of the iceberg.
Bankrolled by Abramovich’s millions, Chelsea won the league in the Russian’s
second season at the club. Al-Fahim hopes for the same at City. “We are
looking to make the same kind of impact at Manchester City that has happened
at Chelsea in recent years,” Al-Fahim said. “That is what we want and we
think it is achievable. The Premier League is a huge attraction for us. We
looked at the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle United but we are very excited
about becoming the new owners of Manchester City and have great ambitions.
“The target is to finish in the top four this season and then challenge for
the Premier League title next year. We know that will require serious
investment, but the bids we have already made for several players
demonstrate how serious we are. We want to turn City into one of the biggest
football clubs there is.”
Asked if the investors would be prepared to spend £200 million or more next
summer to turn City into title challengers, Al-Fahim said: “Yes, if that is
what it takes, we will do it.
“Everything we do, from our marketing plans to the infrastructure we want to
put in place to the purchasing of players, will be done in the very best
interests of the club.”
Provided no unforeseen problems, the due diligence process could be completed
by the end of this week, paving the way for City to change hands for the
second time in just over a year.
Al-Fahim does not anticipate any hitches, although given that Ramadan, which
started yesterday, forbids travel, it is unlikely that any of the Sheikhs
involved will be able to visit Manchester for another month yet. Although
Thaksin had wanted to retain a majority stake in the club, it is doubtful
that the Thai will retain a position on the board, the make-up of which
could undergo a dramatic transformation in the coming months. More plausible
is the prospect of Thaksin being made honorary president, or something
similar.
“We will look to appoint several prominent board members in the next three or
four months,” Al-Fahim said. “We are mindful that it is important to get the
right people. We want as much expertise as possible.”
The commercial implications for the club are huge. It is almost certain that
the naming rights to the City of Manchester Stadium will be sold in the next
six to 12 months, while the future of sponsors such as Singha, the Thai beer
manufacturer and one of the club’s principals, is likely to be complicated
by the imminent arrival of a Muslim group.
Richard Scudamore, the Premier League chief executive, may also have found a
new ally in his quest to introduce an international round of fixtures.
Winter and summer tours to the Middle East could also become the norm.
“We hope that the purchase of City will help to raise the profile of Abu Dhabi
and emphasise the excellent work that is taking place there,” Al-Fahim said.
“We are very excited about the potential opportunities.”
Liverpool supporters are likely to be watching with interest. A Dubai
consortium, bankrolled by Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, remains
determined to purchase the Merseyside club and hopes that the news of an
impending Arab buyout of City will assist in its efforts to wrestle control
from Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, the Anfield owners.
Intriguingly, Amanda Staveley, who has been leading the negotiations with
Liverpool on behalf of Dubai, brokered the City deal.
Quite how City fans will react to Thaksin now remains to be seen. The former
policeman was said to be “embarrassed” by the negative publicity he has
attracted both to the club and personally, but by moving swiftly to sell to
exorbitantly wealthy new owners rather than risk dragging the club’s name
through the mud, few will doubt that he has acted in their best interests.
What is certain, though, is that City stand on the brink of a brave new
world.
Robinho's blue move leaves Chelsea feeling pale
Robinho was one of two players, along with Deco, that Luiz Felipe Scolari
asked Chelsea to sign when he agreed to take over as manager at Stamford
Bridge in June and the club spent much of the summer attempting to do a deal
with Real Madrid.
The Spanish champions expressed annoyance at Chelsea’s willingness to covet a
player with more than two years left on his contract and Ramón Calderón, the
president, confirmed two weeks ago that they would refuse to sanction a deal
with the West London club, but they were happy to do business with
Manchester City yesterday.
Chelsea’s pursuit has been faltering for some time, however, as, despite
making several bids, with a third this weekend of £29 million, they refused
to meet Real’s £32.5 million asking price.
As recently as Sunday Bruce Buck, the chairman, stated he was hopeful of
securing the Brazil forward’s signature, so losing out is a blow,
particularly given the manner in which they have effectively been gazumped
by City.
Words by Matt Hughes
Best of the web
There was shock, delight and excitement among Manchester City fans on the
internet yesterday as the news of the takeover and the bid for Dimitar
Berbatov emerged, but there were also one or two notes of caution amid the
celebrating ...
“There are many positive things to take from today, but I do not want to see
City lose its charm as it becomes a clone of Chelsea / United”
albo2002, bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk
"It takes some of the spirit out of the game, but that's eroding by the
day and no club will win the Premiership or Champions League without the
type of investment we are seeing now. It's sad but true and the amount of
money sploshing around at different clubs, it's no guarantee of success. How
many superplayers and galácticos can you buy?”
dancingsilverback, bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk
“City just don't get it. You have to achieve something or win a trophy ... at
the very least get into the Champions League before you can attract the
players you want to. You don't just come from nowhere, wanting to sign
Champions League-quality players! If that was the case, Ronaldinho or Kaká
would've joined QPR! Their owners are also filthy rich!”
Lothar_Matthaus, bbc.co.uk/606
“I sympathise with City fans uneasy about this but I fear those concerns will
be trampled underfoot by fans whose only thought is the money thrown about
in the transfer window. Clearly any idea of building gradually and steady
improvement has been abandoned and it puts even more pressure on [Mark]
Hughes to deliver the holy grail of fourth place.”
Mr Beast, wsc.co.uk
High flyer: the lowdown on Amanda Staveley
Senior partner in PCP, a London-based private equity firm. Instructed to lead
negotiations for Dubai International Capital to try to buy Liverpool.
Educated at Queen Margaret's School, in Escrick, near York, and now lives in
London.
Left Cambridge University before completing degree to start a restaurant,
Stocks, that was a hit with the racing community travelling to nearby
Newmarket.
It gave her the introductions to the wealthy Middle Eastern families with
strong connections to racing, particularly Sheikh Mohammed, owner of
Godolphin.
Bought the £10million Q.ton conference centre in Cambridge Science Park, soon
valued at £18million and housing a conference centre, restaurant, bar and
gym.
Sold 49 per cent to EuroTelecom for £750,000 cash plus £1.2 million of shares
and took non-executive seat on board. The broadband and IT services company
slid into administration, but there were no claims of wrongdoing by
Staveley.
Twice won the Cambridge Evening News Businesswoman of the Year award.
Dated Prince Andrew, whom she met when he was visiting the Cambridge Science
Park.
