Shinawatra refutes links to Pompey takeover
Thaksin Shinawatra was owner of Manchester City for just over a year
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Sunday, 14, Jun 2009 09:10
Former Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has denied he is linked to the takeover of Portsmouth.
Reports have claimed the former Thai prime minister has been involved in Sulaiman Al-Fahim's bid for Pompey.
Shinawatra was reportedly introduced to Portsmouth's chief executive, Peter Storrie, by Sir Dave Richards, the chairman of the Premier League. It was also claimed the 59-year-old was helping to fund Al-Fahim's bid to buy out current owner Alexandre Gaydamak.
Storrie has branded the reports "absolutely farcical". And now Pompey have said Shinawatra had been in contact to confirm "he has no interest whatsoever" in the proposed takeover.
Shinawatra said: "I am not involved with Sulaiman Al-Fahim's bid in any way.
"I have no interest in Portsmouth FC and furthermore I have no plans to become involved in any football club in the future.
"I have been surprised and shocked by the media coverage and my name being linked with the club.
"There is absolutely no truth in this."
In October, Shinawatra was sentenced to two years in jail for corruption in Thailand. The billionaire had sold Manchester City to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan for £200 million a month earlier.