EXCLUSIVE: Thaksin returns to Thailand to clear his name as City hope for summer cash boost

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

• More Premier League news club by club

Sportsmail can reveal that Thaksin has made the decision in the last few hours and will take a flight from Hong Kong tomorrow night.

Wanted on corruption charges, Thaksin expects to be arrested and bailed and will then endeavour to begin the process of negotiation with the ruling PPP party that he hopes will enable him to clear his name and regain control of £800m of assets that were seized and frozen last year.

Scroll down for more

Sources have told Sportsmail today that Thaksin expects to redirect some of the money towards City - which will be good news for manager Sven Goran Eriksson as he looks to strengthen the City squad in the summer.

Thaksin's prospects of a return to Thailand were raised at the turn of the year when the PPP party triumphed in his country's elections.

The party is known to be sympathetic to him and it is now expected that the charges against him will eventually be dropped.

Scroll down for more

Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson and Thaksin

Thaksin started his career in the Thai police, and later became a successful entrepreneur, establishing the largest mobile phone operator in Thailand. He became one of the richest people in Thailand prior to entering politics.

After a landslide election victory in 2001, he became Prime Minister of Thailand. His skill in forging alliance with smaller parties meant he was the first elected Prime Minister in Thai history to complete his term in office, and this helped him win a landslide re-election in 2005.

However, his government was frequently challenged with allegations of corruption, dictatorship, tax evasion, the use of legal loopholes and hostility towards a free press.

Human Rights Watch described Thaksin as "a human rights abuser of the worst kind", alleging that he had participated in media suppression and presided over extra-judicial killings.

Scroll down for more

A pro-democracy protester in 1992 yells in anger while holding a poster of a man killed, allegedly by government soldiers, during Thaksin's reign as Prime Minister of Thailand

On September 19 2006, a military junta known as the Council for National Security (CNS) overthrew his government in a bloodless coup while he was attending a UN meeting in New York.

In recent weeks Thaksin has been spending most of his time in Hong Kong and Dubai as he has attempted to negotiate his return to Thailand.

He has attended only one City match in recent weeks, the home defeat to Arsenal in January.