Chinese may join Thais in buying a stake in Anfield.Byline: MARK HOOKHAM A CHINESE company is supporting the latest attempt to buy a stake in Liverpool FC,it was claimed last night. Thai media mogul Paiboon Damrongchaitham claims to have enlisted Chinese investment to form a consortium which hopes to secure a 30% holding in the club. And he is also looking for more partners in Japan,Singapore, South Korea,Vietnam and India to form a pan-Asianconsortium. In addition,Mr Paiboon says that Singapore Company, Singapore Press Holdings  The of this article or section may be compromised by "weasel words".You can help Wikipedia by removing weasel words. (SPH sph abbr. spherical lens ), has considered making an investment in the Premier League club itself. He denied,however, reports in the Thai press that (SPH) was a potential partner considering joining his bid. Mr Paiboon,chairman of GMM Grammy GMM Grammy Public Company Limited (Thai: จีเอ็มเอ็ม แกรมมี่, or G"MM' Grammy) is the largest record label and entertainment company in Thailand. Plc, revealed his interest in Liverpool earlier this month after a bid by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Thaksin Shinawatra (täk`sĭn shĭ`näwät), 1949–, Thai business executive and political leader, b. Chiang Mai. Born into a wealth merchant family, he went into the Thai police service in 1973 and continued his fell through. Last week Mr Paiboon met Liverpool FC chief executive Rick Parry Rick Parry (born on 23rd February 1955) is the chief executive of Liverpool Football Club, and former head of the FA Premier League. Career Rick Parry was educated at Ellesmere Port Grammar School and the University of Liverpool. in London to discuss his proposal and set the club a two- week deadline to decide. He wants to set up a holding company of investors to hold shares in four units -one to buy a 30% stake, one to licence Liverpool products in Asia,one to set up a football school and the fourth to create a Thai football league. He has pledged to make a personal investment of at least half the 30% stake and yesterday claimed Chinese and other Thai investors were interested, including the Charoen Pokphand Group and Bangkok-based Beer Chang. He said he is also considering raising money for the club by issuing shares to ``one million Thais'' for pounds 1.35each. Mr Paiboon addd: ``The shares would be sold at 100 baht baht n. pl. bahts or baht See Table at currency. [Thai b  t.]Noun 1. each with a target of one million shareholders to serve as back-up partners in the venture. ``Although I have no background in football,I do understand brand building and how to maximise the brand's potential in Asia.'' When asked about Mr Paiboon's comments, a spokesman for Singapore Press said: ``There is no truth in the report. While SPH is exploring investment opportunities outside Singapore, buying a football club has never been in our ball game.'' Les Lawson, secretary ofLiverpool FC official supporters' club, said he believes the Thai negotiations are just a ``smoke-screen''for another deal which could already be signed. He said: ``There has got to be something in the pipeline. I think they have probably told Steven Gerrard who they have got in to provide new money. ``They are very astute and keep their cards close to their chest. If they turned around at the end of the season and said we have done a deal and got this amount of money to spend then the price of the players they now want to buy would shoot up. ``I think they will buy the players and then announce the investment deal.'' Liverpool FC declined to comment. |
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