lcfcsam Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 Just a blog write up re. Top and his time so far with a few quotes from the man himself. Aiyawatt aiming for the Top with Leicester “The first game I actually went to watch” he reminisces “was the final of the League Cup where Leicester played Middlesbrough” when Steve Claridge shinned the Foxes to victory back in 1997. Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, owner of Leicester City Football Club and the King Power group, would have been in his mid-teens back then but looks back fondly on his first experience of English football. “It was the first time I actually went to watch at the stadium and see the atmosphere” he explains as he sits, sporting a grey jumper instead of a suit, on the upper floor of the Walkers Stadium overlooking the Grand Union Canal that flows nearby. It’s clear that Aiyawatt, affectionately nicknamed ‘Top’ by his father Vichai, is happy in Leicester “I think the club is great, great fans, great facilities” he says, listing the reasons why he chose to purchase City over other options available to him. Raksriaksorn Jnr, unlike his father who is a keen Polo player, is a football fan and has ”travelled to Spain and Italy to watch some games” adding “I love to watch football”. As they continue to flood the game, foreign owners are persistently accused of merely seeing clubs as a business proposition while they themselves hold no footballing acumen. For this reason Milan Mandaric, now at Hillsborough with Sheffield Wednesday, stayed on as chairman for the first few months to soften the transition into English football for the Raksriaksorn family. “They are not football people” he said before his departure “but they want to be and it is my job to help them learn”. The start to their first season proved to be a steep learning curve for the Thai businessmen as Paulo Sousa’s men found themselves bottom of the league after just nine games with the worst goal ratio in the entire Football League. Acting on the advice of Mandaric, they authorised the dismissal of the former Portuguese international as the club looked to salvage their season. “It was not an easy decision but I had to act quickly because I could see the sign that it was not good at all”. Just four days later a replacement had been found in the form of Sven Göran Eriksson, the former Lazio and England head coach, in an appointment which put the club back on the map once more. ”In Sven, we have a world-class leader” said Top at the time “we are very proud to have him as our new manager”. As a demonstration of his influence in Thailand he invited the entire first team squad to his homeland for a mid-season tour of the country where Eriksson, a popular figure in the region after his reign at, then Thai owned, Manchester City, and his new squad were introduced to the Asian public. Matt Oakley, the club captain, remarked “its amazing how much influence these guys have over here and it’s been a privilege to come” speaking in Raksriaksorn’s family owned hotel. Aiywatt likes to look after those who work for him and says he learnt a lot about business and how to treat people from his father. “I always follow my dad everywhere and when he’s working I stay beside him to help me learn” he explains as it becomes evident Vichai holds a significant influence over him. Despite his illustrious business background, and being the 35th richest man in Thailand, it is not Raksriaksorn Snr who pulls the strings at the Walkers Stadium, it is Top who rules the roost. “Thanks to him I think I have a lot of experience in business now”. He’s a man with deep pockets too. Under Sousa he bankrolled the expensive purchases of Yuki Abe (thought to be around £500,000) and Martyn Waghorn (£2million + incentives) as well as loan deals for Eriksson with Premier League stars Curtis Davies, Kyle Naughton and Yakubu Aiyegbeni all arriving courtesy of King Power. “I am an ambitious person and I always aim to be high” he seems willing to back those intentions will real substance off the field too. “I want to meet more of the supporters” he suggests “and become part of the community if I can”; something very rarely uttered from the mouths of foreign investors in the Premier League. It remains to be seen whether Top is singing from a hymn sheet or not but almost seven months into his tenure he hasn’t set a foot wrong. Top says he was aware of “Leicester’s story” before the option to buy them came available “I knew about the history and that they had a good team” he reassures us “I remember when I first drove to the stadium you could see, everything is here to go up”. He cannot go long without mentioning the Premier League, showing just how desperate he is to fulfil his dream in the East Midlands. Since his arrival the club have made great strides off the pitch as well as on it; the club’s brand is now a worldwide one and will undoubtedly be strengthened if promotion is secured, Eriksson is capable of attracting a class of player other managers would not be in the market for and the Thai family have plans to aesthetically improve the Walkers Stadium over the coming summer, potentially expanding the venue if top flight status is restored. Lying in twelfth position, but just four points of sixth, Raksriaksorn jokes “hopefully my nickname will be true and we do get to the Top.” Quotes courtesy of www.lcfc.com and BBC Radio Leicester. Link
norfolkfox222 Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 The first game I actually went to watch” he reminisces “was the final of the League Cup where Leicester played Middlesbrough” when Steve Claridge shinned the Foxes to victory back in 1997.
City Lad Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 Think he's been decent for us so far to be fair. Few good signings, not afriad to splash the cash and also seems a good bloke. Honeymoon periodd?
cc_star Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 It is quite telling that they wanted Manderic to stop on until they found their feet - Most egomaniac owners just takeover then start throwing their weight around whether they know what they're doing or not. good stuff, I was just reminiscing about that Claridge's winner the other day - and I can still feel the bruises from when I let into the air and ended up on the floor about 20 rows away - awesome!!!!
Winchester Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 I think we've been dead lucky with the owners we got. I'm not referring simply to the financial clout they bring, but they seem like proper people and legitimate fans of the club, and understand - at least more than most owners - what the club means to people.
muzzy1981 Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 I think the one thing which does make Top stand out in comparison to other recent big money owners is, that suprisingly he was a geniuine fan of Leicester before taking over.
FanofFilbert Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 I think we have been very lucky to get the Thai guys in. When you think of how badly it went at Liverpool and Man U, we have been very fortunate (so far) The fact that they seem willing to put money into the club and be a part of the whole Leicester experience is fantastic and sounds like the plans for the future regarding the stadium there looking to really set us up as a premiership club. I am under no illusions the main motivation for this is financial but if the fans and the owners share the same goal albeit for differing reasons, we shouldn't go wrong!
One Arm Babba Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 The first game I actually went to watch” he reminisces “was the final of the League Cup where Leicester played Middlesbrough” when Steve Claridge shinned the Foxes to victory back in 1997. Claridges Shin would make for great pub name. His shin was responsible for much of our success in the 90's
Kingylcfc Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 so far so good with Top...the Premier League here we come with :sge:
Webbo Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 Tbf the new owners have been really good to us so far. they've put their hands in their pockets for players, there's the draw for the trips to Thailand, good ticket promotions. As long as they don't run out of money and leave us in the poop we couldn't wish for better.
Bryn Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 That story about us being his first game is surely bullshit
Jacnah Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 It is quite telling that they wanted Manderic to stop on until they found their feet - Most egomaniac owners just takeover then start throwing their weight around whether they know what they're doing or not. good stuff, I was just reminiscing about that Claridge's winner the other day - and I can still feel the bruises from when I let into the air and ended up on the floor about 20 rows away - awesome!!!! if its true that this is the reason Mandy stayed on then I agree. Itbodes well in terms of the reasons they are here; probably not for the love of the club but as you imply not necessarily for egotistical reasons either
gazfox9 Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 He certainly has impressed me in the time he's been here. A great indication of this is the fact he sanctioned the relaying of the pitch at a cost of £100 000 on sven's recommendation. In years gone by the pitch would have resembled a phuket beach come the end of feb!
haraven Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 Surprisingly good vibes so far, and a little relieved we have Top as main man instead of Mandaric. Just for the reason that there probably will be no bad media attention tomorrow... Looking real good - and it is a bit surreal that we're sitting here with Sven Gøran Eriksson as manager, bringing in the Yak - and magically produce a defender one's never heard of that totally owns the air ahead of the second best team in England. Thanks Top, keep it up.
ajthefox Posted 14 January 2011 Posted 14 January 2011 It's been great so far no doubt, but it is still early days. Not sure I buy the business with clarigdes shin though
thybluefox Posted 15 January 2011 Posted 15 January 2011 Certainly no complaints so far, just hope that if we don't get promoted this season that they, and Sven, stick with it. No doubt that with both of them we'll be in the top flight within 18 months.
Far Post Gerry Posted 15 January 2011 Posted 15 January 2011 He would've grown up with Leicester in the Prem during the MON days, so no reason to think he didn't at least like us. Although it's obviously much more likely he was a Man U or Arsenal fan. Seems like a polite, fairly humble chap with a good head on his shoulders. Don't seem to be in it for the fame, like some modern day owners, and he's not afraid to put his hand in his pocket. On the whole, I reckon we're lucky to have him.
Jimbo Posted 15 January 2011 Posted 15 January 2011 whether or not he's telling the whole truth about being a fan of ours for a few years is open to debate, but as has been mentioned, as a teenager he would have grown up when we were a decent enough force under O'Neill so he would most probably have seen something of us. The thing I like most about the bloke is he seems to take an active interest, whether he's a fan or not. Like the other day when he was snapped at the training ground. He makes it to every match yet still travels to Thailand every week. He's telling the truth or he's got a great PR team behind him, either way he's winning over the fans. Just hope it's something that's going to last
Heskey2011 Posted 15 January 2011 Posted 15 January 2011 I think we've been dead lucky with the owners we got. I'm not referring simply to the financial clout they bring, but they seem like proper people and legitimate fans of the club, and understand - at least more than most owners - what the club means to people. Have to admit this is very encouraging, I can relate to falling for City as the owner seems to have at the league cup final, my dad's a manu fan and got me into them when i was a kid but after a mates dad got a spare ticket to wembley vs swindon , even in defeat i knew where my heart belonged, City for Life.
ithuriel Posted 15 January 2011 Posted 15 January 2011 Have not a bad thing to say about him thus far, my Derby supporting manager is a tad jealous though he will not admit it.
skegness fox Posted 15 January 2011 Posted 15 January 2011 The first game I actually went to watch” he reminisces “was the final of the League Cup where Leicester played Middlesbrough” when Steve Claridge shinned the Foxes to victory back in 1997. correct me if im wrong but wasnt that shin against palace in the play off
City Lad Posted 15 January 2011 Posted 15 January 2011 correct me if im wrong but wasnt that shin against palace in the play off I thought it was both games .
Captain... Posted 15 January 2011 Posted 15 January 2011 The thing I like most about the bloke is he seems to take an active interest, whether he's a fan or not. Like the other day when he was snapped at the training ground. He makes it to every match yet still travels to Thailand every week. He has a few clones that he sends to watch the shit matches. So far I've been impressed with the new regime, I am glad that we are not throwing silly money around in the transfer window even though we have the capability, 250K for Bamba Naughton, Mee, Yakubu on loan. Selling Fryatt and Morrison means we are a million or so up at the moment. Good business sense, we don't want to over spend, get in a financial mess and have them pull out and leave us in the shit.
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