[gonzo]

Doesn't sound like Frank will make it to the game though....

Thaksin Shinawatra is preparing to be forced off the Manchester City board under the Premier League's fit-and-proper-person test. The former prime minister of Thailand, who has been advised to stay away from tomorrow's home game against West Ham for his own safety, was described last night as "embarrassed" about the damage he had inflicted on City's reputation but sent out a message, via the club's executive chairman Garry Cook, that he was determined to remain the principal power behind the club.

Thaksin has reluctantly had to consider his position after fleeing Thailand earlier this month to avoid the possibility of being convicted and sent to prison on corruption charges. His trial is due to go ahead in his absence and, if he is found guilty, he also faces being blacklisted from running a Premier League club under the fit-and-proper-person test, which states no club is allowed to employ a director with a conviction for fraud.

"Dr Thaksin has been really open," said Cook. "He has said to us, 'If you need me to resign from this football club because it will serve the needs of the Premier League, I'm fine with that.' He is embarrassed about the indignity he has brought upon his football club and the Premier League. He never intended this to be the case. Three months ago, it was very different."

Thaksin and his lawyers are examining Premier League documents to see how he can take a passive role behind the scenes and continue bankrolling City without breaking any rules. "We are looking at taking him off the board as a director," said Cook. "But can he be a shareholder? Those are two very different issues. The jurisdiction around the term 'fit-and-proper-person' needs to be more clearly defined. It is a very loose term, almost tongue-in-cheek, because there have been plenty of unfit and improper people in the league over the last 10 years."

Cook had a meeting with Sir Dave Richards, the Premier League chairman, this week to inform him that Thaksin's wife, Pojaman, had nothing to do with the day-to-day running of the club. Richards was "concerned", said Cook, because Pojaman had been convicted of fraud and sentenced to three years in prison before she fled Thailand while on bail pending an appeal.

Thaksin has £800m of assets frozen by the Thai courts but has said he is talking to some of the richest people in the world about investing in the club or selling part of his stake. "The one thing he is adamant about is that he is not going to sell his majority or bring in institutes," said Cook. "We're talking about friends of friends. It should all be resolved before the end of the transfer window. These are very wealthy friends."

In the meantime Thaksin's seat will be empty at the City of Manchester stadium. "He wants to be at this ground on Sunday but he is hearing advice from many people about being in a public space," Cook revealed. "There has been a threat to his safety worldwide and he has to be conscious of that, but I think one of the safest places for him to be right now would be this stadium."