Thaksin Shinawatra is pressing ahead with his plans to take control of Manchester City despite being ordered to return to Thailand or face arrest.

The former Thai prime minister and his wife have been charged with concealing assets. But reports suggest the new revelation will not impact on his negotiations with City and that talks are ongoing.

Thaksin left Thailand last year after being ousted from office in a military coup and has been targeted by several investigations into alleged corruption and abuse of power.

Police have ordered the exiled leader to return to Thailand and appear before them by June 29th or face arrest. He is currently living in London.

Thailand's Department of Special Investigations director general Sunai Manomaiudom said police had strong evidence that Thaksin and his wife secretly held stock through nominee companies in SC Assets Corp. PLC, a Shinawatra family holding company.

Serving Thai cabinet ministers are not generally allowed by law to hold shares in publicly listed companies. They are also required to reveal their assets, including stockholdings.

The police are charging Thaksin with violations on both counts when he was prime minister.

City remain in the hunt for a new manager following the dismissal of Stuart Pearce.

The Shinawatra camp have told City they would want to appoint their own boss but that has not stopped the club handling their own search.

Sevilla's Juande Ramos and former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson are still in the frame for the City job.