MikeyT Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 Leicester City vice-chairman Top Raksriaksorn said the club was prepared to make a loss on their investment as they pursue a place in the Premier League. City have been linked to a host of summer transfer targets, and owners Asia Football Investments have pledged to give manager Sven-Goran Eriksson the cash needed to mount a promotion challenge. Emile Heskey, Marlon King, Keiren Westwood, Nicky Maynard and Paul Konchesky have already been linked with moves to the Walkers Stadium. City were also strongly linked yesterday to young Mexican striker Antonio Pedroza Whitham, who is said to have caught Eriksson's eye with his performances for Mexican side Jaguares. City are also trying to bring back to the club the six loan players who finished the season – Kyle Naughton, Jeffrey Bruma, Patrick Van Aanholt, Ben Mee, Yakubu and Diomansy Kamara. Raksriaksorn, whose father and City chairman Vichai Raksriaksorn owns King Power, said in an interview with FC Business magazine that they were prepared to lose money as they chased promotion, but would not risk the financial health of the club. "I understand that the biggest cost is wages, but sometimes we will have to lose money to bring in good players," he said. "At the same time we want to work towards balance. Don't forget that we (King Power) are retailers – we know how to grow revenues. I view this as a long-term project. I know we can bring a lot of success. To achieve what we want to achieve will take a long time." Part of Raksriaksorn's long-term strategy is to raise the club's profile overseas and open up business opportunities which will help City generate extra income which can be invested into the squad. City have already clinched sponsorship deals with AirAsia, Singha Beer and King Power, and Raksriaksorn is negotiating a television deal so that matches can be shown in Thailand next season. King Power are also investing in an academy in Bangkok which should be open in the next few months. "We know we need to improve many things at the business," said Raksriaksorn. "I try to make the brand bigger, take Leicester to Asia, improve the Academy, get fans in the ground earlier and improve non-match-day income. "There are many good staff members at Leicester already. I want to tell them my vision and then we'll develop it together." FC Business is out today and can be purchased by logging on to fcbusiness.co.uk
cairnsy Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 Love that man and I honestly think everyone wins here, we get funds and premiership and the owners get massive revenue from Asia
stix Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 The guy certainly talks the talk. I really hope that he can walk the walk. Exciting times ahead for everone involved in the coming months i think!
Babylon Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 So far they haven't put a foot wrong. I know that means very little in the long term, as what they say and do are two different things. But the same was true of MM and he was just a complete and utter dick.
danlcfc4ever Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 Take a hit for next season, get in the prem ... one season, maybe two... make the investment back in premiership millions. I guess thats the plan!!! A good one as long as the promotion happens. Make a loss and miss out on promotion and they won't be happy!!
Heart-Shaped Fox Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 i want sven out! I will if he signs Bruma again.
Basingstoke Fox Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 Mate of mine went on a trip to Thailand and apparenty there was Leicester shirts everywhere! Amazing. I'm still reserving my judgement for now. Which isn't surprising when you look at whats happened with so many other clubs.
dave the caveman Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 Good on them. But it's not like they have a choice. If they want the premiership then they'll need to take a hit, there's no two ways about it. Then if we get there, they'll need to take another hit to keep us there, and then another, and another and then another and so on.
Legend_in_blue Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 Based on pure money, we should walk this league next season. Can Sven use big money to put a decent side together that can do just that?
Corky Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 So far they've shown they are prepared to put money in for players, so at least they're backing up these words.
cambridgefox Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 Mate of mine went on a trip to Thailand and apparenty there was Leicester shirts everywhere! Amazing. I'm still reserving my judgement for now. Which isn't surprising when you look at whats happened with so many other clubs. I can back that up,went in April.Bangkok airport,albeit King Power had big stands selling ONLY Leicester stuff.Locals knew who we were playing,where we were in the league,players names, and i watched the Burnley game live.It was a bit weird really,but give our owners a big hand,they are putting their hands in their pockets and doing a good marketing job, and what a job that is against Man utd,Liverpool and Chelsea! I feel a motorhead song coming on"king of kings" BOW DOWN TO THE,BOW DOWN TO THE KING(we should try it) link anyone,i can only manage pictures
Finchy Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 I can back that up,went in April.Bangkok airport,albeit King Power had big stands selling ONLY Leicester stuff.Locals knew who we were playing,where we were in the league,players names, and i watched the Burnley game live. Don't suppose you remember how much the shirts were do you?
cambridgefox Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 Don't suppose you remember how much the shirts were do you? i think about £30.but the flight was about £600 return!!!
jonthefox Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 This asian thing is definatly the way forward. The money making possibilitys are endless. Well done top et al.
Finchy Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 i think about £30.but the flight was about £600 return!!! Well I have a mate going so I'll save that £600 But yeah if the shirts are cheaper hopefully he can get me the new shirt.
Nick Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 Well I have a mate going so I'll save that £600 But yeah if the shirts are cheaper hopefully he can get me the new shirt. I think we can safely state at this juncture that "we've had worse owners"
Guest parky0607 Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 Sorry to be a party pooper but what would happen if these Thai owners spend loadsa money and then f**k off? Would the club be left in the doo-doos? I appreciate what their doing but I'm slightly worried about them turning us into the man city of the championship, pumping loads of money into big name players who don't achieve much. Other than that, it's all well and good.
ajthefox Posted 24 May 2011 Posted 24 May 2011 All sounds very positive and long term Long may it continue
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.