Shock as City go for Ranieri

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Although Dutchmen Ronald Koeman, Louis van Gaal and Guus Hiddink remain in the frame, it is clear that support for surprise candidate Ranieri has grown among the Thai takeover party.

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Ranieri: Struggled at Valencia

Former Bayern Munich boss Felix Magath has also been in contact with City negotiators and expressed an interest in succeeding Stuart Pearce, who was sacked on Monday, but the German does not feature in Shinawatra's plans.

The decision on who will take charge will be taken by Shinawatra, his adviser Keith Harris and City chief executive Alistair Mackintosh.

But the Thai will hold any casting vote. Critically, Ranieri is the preferred candidate of Harris who, in his role as chairman of financial advisers Seymour Pierce, has a sizeable influence over Sinawatra's decisions.

Harris is the man who helpedbroker Randy Lerner's takeover at Aston Villa and Eggert Magnusson's successful bid for West Ham, and sources close to the respected banker were pushing Ranieri's case last night.

Shinawatra met Mackintosh in London yesterday as he attempted to push his £85million buy-out of the club towards a conclusion and it is understood that the subject of Pearce's successor was high on the agenda.

Other parties are interested in buying the club but once Shinawatra tables a bid, as is widely expected, City will push on with their search for a new manager and he could be in place within a fortnight.

Ranieri would be a controversial choice among City fans given the slightly eccentric reputation he left behind after four years at Chelsea.

The Italian, manager of Parma until the end of the season, led Chelsea to second in the Premiership before being sacked by owner Roman Abramovich in 2004 and subsequently struggled at Valencia.