Thai ousted PM to train national squad before World Cup

BANGKOK, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's ousted prime minister and also Manchester City's billionaire owner, will pay for the Thai national team squad to train with his club to help their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, Thai local media reported on Tuesday.

Thaksin, the former premier who was ousted from office during last year's military coup, said he will bring the entire Thai squad to Manchester for 11 days next month and will foot the lion's share of the bill, Worawi Makudi, secretary general of the Thai Football Association, was quoted by The Nation news network as saying.

"If we want to go to the World Cup, this is what we have to do," said Worawi, adding, "Manchester City are keen to help us, they signed some of our players and they are happy to pay for our preparation."

Thailand, that has never reached the World Cup finals, has been drawn with Japan, Oman and Bahrain in the third round of Asian qualifiers.