Thaksin 'prepared to quit board'
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Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has offered to resign from the club's board, executive chairman Garry Cook has revealed.
The former Thai prime minister flew to Britain last week instead of returning to his homeland to face court charges.
The Premier League has been monitoring the situation.
Cook said: "Dr Thaksin is embarrassed about the indignity brought on all the entities - the club, the Premier League - he never intended this."
He added: "Dr Thaksin has been really open about this.
"He has said to me, 'if you need me to resign from the football club as a director, because it would serve the needs of the Premier League, then I'm fine with that as long as that doesn't change any other thing.'"
It is not clear what the board's exact response to Shinawatra's offer was.
Cook said Thaksin will not be present at Eastlands when City host West Ham on Sunday because of fears for his safety.
"He wants to be at this ground on Sunday but he is hearing advice about being in a public space," Cook added.
The Premier League has indicated it may ask Thaksin to take its 'fit and proper person test' to see if he can own a club.
"I think there is a very loose term about what is 'fit and proper'," said Cook.
"It is almost a tongue-in-cheek term that you would use for Premier League football over the last 10 years. There are plenty of unfit and improper individuals."
Cook also admitted Thaksin does have financial constraints - his assets have been frozen in Thailand - but denied it will be a major problem for City.
"Dr Thaksin is in a political situation and a case that affects his assets, so that's well documented. So that's a hurdle," Cook said.
"The truth of it is this club is not going to go out of business. This club is not bankrupt. We're moving forward."
City manager Mark Hughes, who had dinner with Shinawatra this week, is pleased with the club's progress in the transfer market.
The latest arrival, Belgium's 22-year-old midfielder Vincent Kompany, could make his debut against the Hammers after signing a four-year deal following his move from Hamburg for a reported £6m.
His signing follows the capture of Brazil striker Jo in the close season for £18m.
"We keep on telling everyone there is not a financial situation here and no constraints," said Hughes.
"Some people are putting out a lot of negativity about the club. That will change once we start winning games. People will then concentrate on football, which is the most important thing."
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It's indeed a surprise that he is embarassed over his lack of morals. For a man who has an insatiable greed for wealth, he seem to accept corruption as a way of life back in Thailand. Now, he lives in a society with higher moral and ethical standards, he is embarassed over his past.
Now, Manchester City is stucked with a 'poor' owner with less resources compared to other Premier League clubs, Manchester City is struggling for survival even before the season has started.
For the benefit of Man City Club and fans, he should sell the club.
Greed is not immoral... insatiable greed is not immoral.. corruption is only acceptable in Thailand, not in cultured society in UK.