Eriksson receives funding promise

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has pledged more funds to back Sven Goran Eriksson in the January transfer market.

Thaksin has already spent £40m on new players since his summer takeover of the Eastlands outfit, despite having over £1bn of his assets frozen in his native Thailand.

And the former Thai Prime Minister is clearly undeterred by the launch of an investigation in his homeland into the funds he used to complete his City buy-out, as he has already earmarked more money for Eriksson.

Third in the top flight, City head to former champions Chelsea tomorrow knowing victory will take them seven points clear of Avram Grant's men.

Both Thaksin and Eriksson accept there is still plenty of work to be done. But, having vowed to take City into Europe within three years, Thaksin has confirmed he will back Eriksson when the transfer window opens in a bid to gain Uefa Cup qualification.

"There will not be many new faces like there were in the summer but possibly, there will be a few," he said. "There is no doubt that I trust Sven to spend my money well and it is our duty to find it. His track record has been brilliant so far. There were those who questioned us when we appointed Sven as manager but they are not doing so now. So far, he has proved to be a perfect choice."

Thaksin is currently refusing to return to Thailand to face corruption charges, claiming he would not get a fair trail.

So, for now, he is concentrating on turning City into a major Premier League force and is understandably delighted with the way things have gone so far.

"We set out with a three-year plan and though people will say we are ahead of that plan we have only played 10 games so far. But we have started very well and we seem to be winning the disillusioned fans back."