MANCHESTER City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is at the centre of a new political row in Thailand after police put up `wanted' posters of him and his wife.

The former Thai prime minister who bought the Blues last year for £80m has fled his homeland rather than face corruption charges.

He is now in exile in Britain, with £800m of his assets frozen, having admitted his advisers are seeking new investors - a situation that has led to speculation that the club is effectively up for sale.

Thailand's prime minister Samak Sundaravej has come under attack from 200 members of his own party over allowing police to put up the wanted posters but says he will not resign or dissolve Parliament.

The Supreme Court in Bangkok has issued warrants for the arrest of Dr Thaksin and his wife Pojaman after they fled the country last week to England.

They contended that they couldn't get fair trials in Thailand in a number of cases involving alleged corruption and abuse of power.

Mr Samak said that he would `not bow to the call from protesters and several other groups of people urging me to resign or dissolve the House'.

Dr Thaksin, who was pictured shopping in Surrey last week, has refused to comment on his situation.

City fans are anxious about the club's long-term future with less money than expected for manager Mark Hughes' team rebuilding.

Club officials have however been stressing it is business as usual.

The Premier League may act under their fit and proper person rules covering ownership of football clubs if Dr Thaksin, who has yet to apply for political asylum to stay in the UK, is found guilty in his absence by courts in Thailand.