Thaksin will quit for good of club

MANCHESTER // Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has offered to resign from the board at Eastlands, 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, calling into question his future at City. The Premier League are looking into the situation amid claims Thaksin could fail the fit and proper person test for involvement in a top-flight club.

Cook said: "Dr Thaksin is embarrassed about the indignity brought on all the entities the club, the Premier League he never intended 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." City host West Ham today (Showsports2, 7pm) and Belgium international Vincent Kompany could make his debut following his switch from the Bundesliga side Hamburg.

West Ham, meanwhile, hope to have striker Dean Ashton and midfielder Scott Parker fit. * Agencies