Thaksin charge raises concerns about foreign ownership

Hugh Robertson, the Conservative shadow sports minister, said fans would be unable to understand how Thaksin could be a suitable owner of City.

"Once formal charges have been laid it is difficult for the layman to understand how any fugitive from international justice facing corruption charges could be a fit and proper person to own a football club," said Robertson.

The Londonbased the Guardian quoted Robertson as saying developments at Manchester City and concerns about foreign ownership of leading clubs meant that it might be necessary for the Premier League to look again at the effectiveness of the fit and proper person test.

The new sports minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, would not be drawn on Tuesday to comment on specific cases but said the government was not complacent about foreign takeovers.

"I want the tradition of football to be respected," he said. "We are dealing with companies governed by the rules of the stock market and company law."

Thaksin arrived at the City of Manchester Stadium on  Wednesday and spent 20 minutes talking to the players after successfully completing his £81.6m takeover.

His arrival in Manchester coincided with a decision by the supreme court in Thailand that they would hear corruption allegations against him, reported the Guardian.

City's new manager, SvenGoran Eriksson, meanwhile, has returned to Italy to make his first major signing. The club is close to confirming the arrival of Reggina striker Rolando Bianchi.

Eriksson, whose managerial career includes spells at four Italian clubs, has beaten off interest from Juventus and Napoli to secure Bianchi, although City last night gave a guarded response to claims from Pasquale Foti, the Reggina president, that the two clubs had a preliminary agreement for a fee of £8.7m for the 24yearold.

"We have not agreed a fee with Reggina yet," said a City spokesman. "He is a player who does interest us, but no fee has been agreed."