A crystal ball ball that could hold the key to Manchester City's future success has been removed from beneath their Eastlands pitch.

In 2008 the previous club owner Thaksin Shinawatra ordered magic crystals and porcelain elephants be buried at various places underneath the playing surface to 'energise players' and 'create harmony' at the stadium.

But, after being dug up as part of drainage improvements earlier this week, the club's new owners now need to decide whether the mystic items will go back under the new pitch.

Ahead of the 2008-09 season the large crystal ball was buried under the centre spot while the elephants, seen as symbols of wisdom in some Asian cultures, were buried underneath the corner flags with a number of crystals.

At the time fans were divided over whether the feng shui makeover would result in success.

However, despite not winning any trophies since then, the charms certainly brought a change of fortune off the pitch, when the Blues were taken over by an Abu Dhabi billionaire sheik later that year.

The team also landed their highest ever finish in the Premier League this year when they secured fifth spot and a place in the Europa Cup.

Hallowed turf

The items remained under the hallowed turf until earlier this week when the surface was ripped up for drainage improvements to be carried out.

Video footage posted on the club's facebook page shows head groundsman Lee Jackson dig up the crystal ball from underneath the centre circle.

Clutching a pitchfork he explains: “About three years ago when Thaksin owned the club a feng shui expert came in and buried two pot elephants in every corner and some crystals and buried a crystal ball under the kick off spot.

“I am now going to expose that crystal ball, I hope.”

Seconds later Lee manages to unearth the ball to the amazement of the camera crew who had refused to believe him.

Lee then admits the future for the ball is unclear.

“We may rebury it,” he says. “We've not had a bad time since so I think I need to speak to a few relevant people and decide what to do it.”

According to comments posted under the video many Blues fans want the charms to remain.

But their hopes may be dashed after a club source told the M.E.N. it was 'very unlikely' that they would make a return.