CITY are now the richest club in the Premier League and could well be the most pragmatic and sympathetically run, too!

New owner Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has an estimated wealth of around £560billion but just as vitally for City fans he knows the true value of history and football's place and importance in the community.

That is why he asked his friend and business partner Khaldoon Al Mubarak to become the new chairman of the club with a brief to make sure he puts in place a lasting dynasty and at the same time returns City to being the inclusive, warm and welcoming club that traditionally placed it in the heart of its fans.

Al Mubarak is a Formula One fan responsible for Abu Dhabi's inaugural Formula One Grand Prix in 2009 and beyond, and he expects the Blues to be on the front row of the footballing grid for years to come but he will make sure that success does not come attached to debt or by forsaking those who pay at the turnstiles.

Sitting in a box at the City of Manchester Stadium and already wearing a sky blue tie to augment his rather darker blue suit, Al Mubarak cuts an impressive figure.

He was flanked by Abu Dhabi's director of strategic communications Simon Pearce, another `thirtysomething' who will bring youthful energy to the board.

There is none of the brashness that sometimes comes with super wealth and power but rather a softly spoken, measured voice that owes much to his university education in Boston in the United States.

Emphasis

He and Pearce thank the MEN for giving up its time to see them and then Al Mubarak, leaning forward for slight emphasis, eases into excited conversation about City.

There was and will never be any of the flashy showmanship that characterised the early publicity of the bid when Dr Sulamain Al Fahim upset some with his thoughts on who City might buy and what they might pay.

Showy outgoing owner Thaksin Shinawatra raising Al Mubarak's arm like a winning prizefighter for the glare of the cameras before the win over Portsmouth is not the Abu Dhabi businessman's style. He clearly was uncomfortable with the gesture and will not be seeking the limelight or grandstanding at any stage during his tenure and will leave the talking to Garry Cook and Mark Hughes.

The new chairman has been running the Abu Dhabi government-owned investment and development firm Mubadala Development Company for the past two years.

It is a company that has investments in more than 50 different companies worldwide and has assets of around £6billion. He has a five percent stake in Italian luxury car maker Ferrari and has already joked that he will be seek the increase in production of baby blue coloured models bearing the prancing horse motif.

The chairman chatted excitedly about spending the two days leading up to the 6-0 drubbing of Portsmouth in Manchester getting a feel for the club and its fans, and he admits to being genuinely touched by the response to the takeover.

He hailed Sunday's signing of the 80 documents that gave Sheikh Mansour a 90 per cent stake in the club and reduced former Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra's holding to ten per cent as a wonderful day.

And for all his penchant for Grand Prix, he has promised the supporters that he will be no back-seat driver and will ensure that the Academy will be put at the forefront of the planning for the club's future.

"We're extremely happy. We're delighted that we are now part of Manchester City. We think that this is a wonderful club with a tremendous history and heritage. Our investment is one for the future," he declared, barely stifling a smile.

"I have spent a couple of days visiting Carrington and going to the Academy. I was there all of Sunday morning and I watched the Under-14, Under-12 and Under-9 sides.

"One thing that I think is important and that I want to emphasise straight away, is that the Academy is a priority.

"We need to invest in the Academy and we will continue to develop it. It makes business sense and from a community perspective there is no question about the impact on the community.

"The future of this club is to continue to produce talents like Micah Richards, Michael Johnson and Shaun Wright-Phillips. This is very important to us and we are really going to commit to the Academy.

Experiences

"One of my most enjoyable experiences so far was sitting with Academy chief Jim Cassell, seeing his passion, seeing how proud he is of every player that has come out of the Academy. I have the highest confidence in him. We'll be working a lot with him.

"Sheikh Mansour runs another club, Al Jazeera in Abu Dhabi, and we want to learn from the model that has been so successful here. He likes to invest in youth and give it chance to shine. That's what he has done all his life.

"My mandate from him was to spend as much time as possible with the Academy, and I have promised him that's what I am going to do. I have promised him that I'll do what I can to ensure that this Academy is the best not just in England, but in Europe."

That could eventually mean a change in venue for the Platt Lane hot house, with either a move to Carrington or a new bigger home.

But whatever plans are put in place for the Academy or any other part of the club they will not be acted upon without the approval and input of those already working at City.

The chairman confirmed that Garry Cook, the former Nike executive, head-hunted from the United States by Shinawatra, will remain in charge of the day-to-day running of the club, though the make-up of the rest of the board is yet to be revealed.

"I can't say enough about Garry, he's a wonderful chap," said Al Mubarak. "We are committed to him and we are going to support him fully. As I have already said, Mark Hughes is as good as they get and we are backing both of them all of the way. They make the decisions and we are here to learn, and we want to hear from the fans and the community.

"We want to bring this club back to the community and to the fans. A lot has happened over the last couple of weeks but we want people to know that we are genuine people. We want to develop this club in a sustainable manner.

"Nothing rash is going to happen, we are not going to do crazy stuff! We will work with Garry and Mark - they call the shots and we are here to support, to help build a sustainable club.

"We are here as long-term investors. It makes sense for us to build a dynasty. Between Mark and Garry, I think we have a dynasty in the making. With our backing, with the commitment we are going to make to the Academy in the next ten years there is going to be a tremendous period for City and for us. And I think we are going to have a blast doing it!

"I'll be chairman, and over the next days and weeks we will come out with an announcement about how the board will be structured. We will bring top-notch individuals to the board. To run a good company you need a strong board."

Schedules

Al Mubarak revealed that the owner had watched the Portsmouth game in Abu Dhabi and intended to come to Eastlands for a match as soon as schedules allow.

"Sheikh Mansour is absolutely delighted. He is a huge fan of football and of Manchester City and he asked me to take on this role as chairman on his behalf," he smiled. "I'm a big football fan and when he asked it took about a second to decide!

"He will come to games and I will as often as I can.

"This club will be run professionally and we want to sit and support from the side. As for targets for the team, I don't think that it is fair for us to talk about at this juncture. Garry and Mark will put a plan together about what our targets are and that's when we will talk.

"We are sensible people and though there will be money to spend, when it comes to a lot of the talk that has been around, forget everything that has been said in the past.

"We are sensible people and we are investors who have invested in this club and will continue to do so, as long as it has the right pay-off for us and as long as it delivers results.

"For us to be happy, this club has to be successful and within a period of time competing at the highest level and hopefully winning trophies. At the same time, we will bring in the talent from the Academy and that talent has a value. We're convinced of the business case here, that in the long-term will pay off. That's the bottom line.

Revenue

"We're taking it step by step, we'll be depending on Garry's views on the long-term interests of the club and what needs to be done to ensure that this club has a sustainable revenue stream."

The chairman has already met with council leaders including Sir Howard Bernstein, though what plans they might have for the stadium and possibly developing the land around it are, for now, staying firmly under wraps.

"I had a wonderful discussion with Sir Howard, he's a big fan, I am so happy that up to now we have felt nothing but warmth and have had a welcome from everyone, whether its from the council, the club, the personnel, the fans, it's a good feeling," continued Al Mubarak.

"Manchester is an important city in England. I don't know much about it, this is my third visit and I want to learn a lot more about the city, the people and the history. I'll do that in the weeks to come.

"We have a good team, we need time to gel, we need to give Mark the time and the support but we are starting from a good place.

"Above all we are patient, committed, and long term. If you look at Sheikh Mansour's track record and Abu Dhabi's track record in general, they are always sensible investors, well regarded by everyone."

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