THAILAND: Manchester City manager Eriksson arrives in Bangkok

Sven-Goran Eriksson arrives in Bangkok hoping to add Thai players to his Mancheser City squad. Manchester City coach Sven-Goran Eriksson arrived in Bangkok on Thursday (November 15) to raise the team's profile in Asia, but there were fewer club fans to greet him than security guards and supporters of owner Thaksin Shinawatra. Eriksson was whisked from the arrival hall by at least two dozen airport guards and security men who had guarded Thaksin until he was ousted as prime minister in a bloodless coup last year. About 50 cameramen and photographers jostled to film him. A few supporters wearing the sky blue shirts of the English Premier League club were outnumbered by a handful of hardcore Thaksin fans wearing T-shirts bearing his picture. The shirts bore the slogan "We love Thaksin, await his return". He has lived in exile in London since his overthrow. Eriksson, in a blue shirt and a blue-and-yellow tie bearing a Thai royal emblem, said nothing to waiting reporters. Thaksin's son, Panthongthae, who is fighting tax fraud charges, flew into Bangkok with Eriksson. On Friday, he is due to sign at least one Thai international player for Manchester City. Suree Sukha, a 25-year-old attacking fullback who earns just $300 a week in the domestic league, would the first Thai to join a top-flight European club. Along with fellow Thais Kiatprawut Saiwaeo and Teerasil Dangda, Suree was invited for trials at City by Thaksin after he bought the club in July for 81 million pounds ($166.5 million). Thaksin's critics have dismissed the City takeover and the club's interest in Thai players as publicity stunts aimed at helping the billionaire tycoon return to politics. For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com

ITN Source | November 16, 2007

Tags:. .charges. .blue. .suree. .english. .hardcore