Newsletter #1342

Hi, my name’s Don and I’ll be your Heidi for this issue. The News Summary’s full of tales of the not-yet-completed takeover, the manager who turns up for training when he hasn’t been appointed yet and the truth about that glamorous pre-season friendly.

The sudden departure of a fans’ favourite has elicited much comment from the good citizens of MCIVTA-land, and of course the ticklish state of the Thai takeover takes up much talking time tonight.

Plus we bring news of a pub just off the M1 that is recommending itself for match-day beverages. As frequent user of said Motorway, I might have to sample the wares of said hostelry, and I’ll let you know. I know, but it’s a sacrifice I’m pleased to make for you all!

Don’t worry, the real Heidi will be back for Issue 1343…

NEWS SUMMARY

“Are We There Yet?” News

Sven Believes: Every day this week’s been like Groundhog Day. Every day, someone writes “Sven-Goran Eriksson is expected to be installed as City’s boss within the next 48 hours, once Thaksin Shinawatra gains over 75% of shares in the club. His stake currently stands at x%.” You can update the ‘x’ with either 65%, 67%, 70% or 72%, depending on the day you were reading this report. We were reassured that Sven was in this adventure with City for the right reasons (i.e. not just a huge sack of loot). “He’s aware all the club are missing is some trophies and he aims to put that right,” said a spokesman for Eriksson, who rejected overtures from Marseilles and Dynamo Kiev as well as clubs in Spain and Italy to take what he believes is his greatest challenge at City. “City is a great club with great fans and stadium and is looking for success just like him. Decent money is available for him to bring in players and he is determined to help City achieve their Champions’ League aspirations,” added the spokesman.

(Get A) Grip (For Yourself): To reinforce the view that Eriksson is serious about his adventure in Eastlands, the press reported that he was going to bring his former England assistant Tord Grip with him to City. Grip, 69, worked alongside Eriksson at Lazio as well as in the England set-up, and was Sweden’s assistant boss from 1977 to 1978, when Andersson was a defender in the international side. The former England coach wants to use his trusted lieutenant in a scouting rôle. Athole Still, Eriksson’s agent, (a man, who, as we know from last week, has his finger on the pulse of all things Sven) said: “I’m certain that Tord Grip will be there at some level.” In an interesting piece of reasoning, Paul Wilson in his column in the Observer claimed that appointing Sven and a backroom staff of Swedes could prove a masterstroke. City would them have a wealth of Scandinavian contacts, so allowing City to tap into a wealth of playing talent from that reason. Nice theory, one hopes it’s true.

Takeover? What Takeover? So what exactly was going on with this takeover? This is the third News Summary since Shinawatra announced his intention to purchase the club, but no resolution is yet in sight. Maybe the chaps expecting a nice, fat pay cheque from Thaksin were getting worried, because a City spokesman said: “We would appeal to our fans now with small shareholdings to sell as quickly as possible. Thaksin is approaching the 70 per cent mark now. Things have not been helped by the postal strike yesterday, which has delayed things, but he could reach 75 per cent by early next week if things go well. If our fans want to see the pace towards a new future they want, then they need to get cracking and sell quickly to speed things along.” Next came word that Shinawatra had gone on the offensive against the Thai government and its agencies. The former Prime Minister is furious at what he sees as an on-going attempt to discredit him and his family. His lawyers revealed that various charges had been laid against members of the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) by Thaksin and his wife Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra. In a statement, his lawyers said: “The sole purpose of the AEC is to sabotage any action by Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra. Various actions taken by the AEC were illegal, unfair and against the principle of the rule of law. Therefore, Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra and his family have no alternative but to take all necessary legal actions to protect himself and his family’s reputation and prestige.” But the Sunday Times was not sure that Shinawatra would free himself so easily from the call of his homeland – “MAN CITY’S THAI TYCOON FACES ARREST – The former Thai prime minister who is poised to buy Manchester City football club could be extradited from Britain to face corruption charges in his home country. The Thai embassy in London has confirmed that a warrant will be issued for the arrest of Thaksin Shinawatra if he refuses to return to Thailand.” The day before, the Telegraph claimed that the takeover was still in the balance, and that British law enforcement agencies were taking an interest, quote: “Thaksin Shinawatra’s takeover of Manchester City and the return of Sven-Goran Eriksson to English football remains in the balance as investigations continue into the money the former Thai prime minister is using to buy the club. Unconfirmed reports in Thailand claimed that a ‘British law enforcement agency’ had contacted Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office to ask what action they want taken on £150 million that Thaksin deposited in London banks after he was removed as Prime Minister in a military coup last September.”

Shock Tactics: This week’s former England boss giving Sven unasked-for advice is Sir Bobby Robson. He claims that Eriksson faces a massive shock when (if?) he returns to club management with City. Robson said: “Sven is going to find things extremely difficult. They call being England manager the impossible job, but you have to work even harder for a club side in England. It’ll be a huge culture shock, you have games coming thick and fast. He needs good results at the outset otherwise he’ll be under immediate pressure.”

Recreation Break for Sven? A further sliver of doubt was put into City fans’ minds by the Daily Mirror claiming that the “crafty Swede” had also been in talks with Spanish club Recreativo Huelva in case his move to City collapses. As Alan Nixon puts it: “Eriksson would be earning far more at Eastlands than Huelva can offer – and there is no comparison between the sizes of the clubs. But the fact that he is keeping the Spanish option alive shows his state of mind.”

Sven Likes to Watch: The players reported back for training on Wednesday, and Sky Sports News showed Sven strolling amongst the players. He still hasn’t been formally appointed, mind, so perhaps this was more a statement of intent by Sven. He was introduced to former Swansea chief Kenny Jacket, brought in by Stuart Pearce to be reserve team boss towards the end of last season, and the long-serving Derek Fazackerley, who have been involved in planning today’s workout for the players. Most of the session was taken up with the usual first-day-back medical checks and plenty of running. Conditioning coach John Webb will take the sessions, as he would have done if there had been no manager or any other new boss, with Eriksson overseeing events. I’m not sure how much of an impression the skeleton staff of players made on the boss-to-be, but there were reports suggesting that Sven needs at least ten new players before the start of the season.

Transfer News and Gossip

Majorly Slim: SWP won’t be coming back to City if Sven’s in charge – according to his dad, at any rate (that’s Shaun’s of course, not Sven’s). Shaunie’s adoptive father, former Arsenal ace Ian Wright, claims his son does not fancy being managed by Eriksson following a short spell under him with the national side. “No, it’s not happening,” Wright told Talksport. “I know he loves Manchester City. Whether he loves Manchester City with Sven in charge is another story. It hasn’t gone as well as he would have liked at Chelsea, everyone knows that. But he has to see how his options go, see what he’s going to do with Chelsea for a start. But I would categorically say the chances of Shaun going back to City, with Eriksson as their manager, are very, very slim. Majorly slim in fact.” I’m picking up a few negative vibes there, myself…

Sven to Chop Dickov: He’s not even in charge yet, and already Sven is deciding who’s going and who’s staying, according to the press. It’s alleged that he’ll reign in ruthless fashion by getting rid of two of the club’s failed strikers. Paul Dickov, who did not score a single goal last season, and Italian Bernardo Corradi are likely to be the first casualties of Eriksson’s reign as the Swede begins a radical overhaul of his squad. Dickov did not score a single goal last season, although he was often used as a substitute, and Corradi failed to live up to expectations following his arrival last summer. A move back to Italy beckons for Bernie, with both Atalanta and Torino expressing an interest.

Nic Off: The list of departing players lengthened this week as Nicky Weaver signed a 3-year contract with Championship side Charlton Athletic. It was a bitter parting for Weaver, the penalty shoot out hero in City’s 1999 play-off triumph. Earlier in the week, he was waiting to hear whether City would honour SP’s promise of a new contract for the 28-year-old. The M.E.N. said that Sunderland, Blackburn, Bolton and Glasgow Rangers were all monitoring Weav’s status. “I have never hidden my love for this club or my desire to stay and that hasn’t changed,” he said. “I am just waiting to see what the new manager has to say. I thought I did well last season and I want a crack at being No. 1 come August.” On Wednesday came news that he was off to South London on a free transfer. “Nicky hasn’t had the breaks in his career that he has deserved, but this is a great opportunity for him,” commented Charlton’s boss Alan Pardew. Nicky meanwhile was not a happy bunny. “One minute we were talking about a testimonial and the next we weren’t talking at all,” he stated. “I found that disheartening. I was told that the contract offered while Stuart Pearce was manager was no longer on the table and that I would have to basically go on trial for the new manager. I found that a bit of an insult, given that I played more than 30 games last season in the Premiership and cups. My agent Paul Stretford made it clear that I didn’t want to leave City, where I had spent most of my adult life, but in the end it became clear it was time to move on. I will probably never again experience the special bond I have with City’s fans and, for their sake, I hope the season is a great success. They deserve to see a winning team.” Weaver added: “Now I have got to get on with my new life. Alan Pardew made me feel extremely welcome and did in 15 minutes what City couldn’t in six months.”

What’s the Motta You? Two Premiership clubs have made contact with the agents of Barcelona midfielder Thiago Motta in this week. Barca have confirmed that Motta is on the market and DiarioSport says that Tottenham and (of course) City, along with Italy’s Lazio, have all made firm contract offers to his agents. However, none of three clubs are prepared to pay a fee for Motta, who is pleading with Barça to grant him a free transfer.

Double Hijack Attempt: This week Fernando Torres signed for Liverpool from Atletico Madrid, while Nigel Reo-Coker joined Aston Villa from West Ham, but not before City made (it’s reported) last minute bids to sign both players. How serious City’s interest was in either player will never be known, but it certainly made sure that the Blues were getting yet more publicity for their “big money” intentions. Torres, a 23-year-old striker, completed the long-drawn switch from Atletico in a reported £26.5 million deal that’s a Liverpool record fee. Luis Garcia made the trip the other way in part exchange. Apparently City and Inter Milan were late entrants in making bids. And there was a similar tale to tell in Reo-Coker’s move to Villa. The Midlands club completed the signing of the West Ham midfielder for a fee of £8.5 million, but not before we had the now almost compulsory “Sven swoops For…” headline. It was said that Eriksson had authorised an inquiry about Reo-Coker, who was on Sven’s stand-by list for England’s World Cup squad last summer. Meanwhile, back at Liverpool; City were being told they can land striker Craig Bellamy on the cheap – if they included Michael Johnson in their bid. So said the News of the World.

Strike It Lucky: Apart from “Sven Swoops For…”, the next most popular line in City transfer speculation his week had to be “Sven-Goran Eriksson will make player XYZ his first signing.” And the football media were sure that a striker would be top of the Swedish shopping list. Here we go then… Sven-Goran Eriksson will make Middlesbrough striker Yakubu his first signing. The Mirror says Sven Goran Eriksson sees the Nigerian frontman as a guaranteed source of goals for the club, and would risk £10 million on the player. No no no claimed other journals – Eriksson’s first signing would be none other than the prodigal son himself, Nicolas Anelka. France international Anelka has also been identified by Gunners’ boss Arsene Wenger as the hitman he wants to replace Thierry Henry, but there is reportedly a boardroom split at the Emirates over the proposed deal because of the 28-year-old’s acrimonious exit from the club in 1999. Or could Nico be Spain bound? Both Valencia and Villarreal were said to be interested. How about Christian Vieri for City? The 33-year-old former Italy international has just been released by his boyhood club Atalanta, and the News of the World are reporting that City officials have been in touch on behalf of SGE to sound him out about a move to England. Vieri is fit again after undergoing two knee operations last year, and is looking for a late opportunity to resurrect his career after suffering a dramatic loss of form in the last two years.

Rich Pickings: Everton and City are believed to have entered the race for out-of-favour Reds’ utility man Kieran Richardson. Richardson turned his back on a permanent move to West Brom, where he had spent a successful loan spell in January 2005, two summers ago in a bid to fight for a regular first-team spot at Old Trafford. Sven, lest we forget, gave Richardson his England début on a summer tour of the USA last summer. Sunderland and Sheffield United have also put him on their wanted list – with Roy Keane keen to be reunited with his former Red Devils team-mate and Blades’ boss Bryan Robson hoping to lure him after managing him during his spell in charge of Albion.

It’s Sama Time: Could there be new suitors for Georgios Samaras? This week he’s being linked with a move to French side Rennes despite saying he would like to stay at City. It is thought the French club have made a bid of £2 million for the striker but that is unlikely to be accepted after City forked out £6 million for his services back in January 2006. If Samaras does leave City, he will be the eighth player to exit the club since the end of last season, following in the footsteps of Stephen Jordan, Djamel Abdoun, DaMarcus Beasley, Trevor Sinclair, Sylvain Distin, Joey Barton and Nicky Weaver.

Best of the Rest News

Bernabeu or South Yorks – Which Do You Think? Last week we brought you rumours of a pre-season friendly against Real Madrid, this week we can confirm that a friendly has finally been confirmed – against Doncaster Rovers. The Blues travel to Rovers’ new ground, the Keepmoat Stadium on July 14. So City fans travelling to Doncaster won’t have to relive the humiliation of visiting their previous ground Belle Vue, scene of one of the Psycho era’s low points a couple of years ago, when Rovers beat City on penalties in the Carling Cup.

The Future’s Brighty: Former City boy Ian Brightwell has been handed the manager’s job at League Two outfit Macclesfield Town. Brightwell, 39, makes the step up from first-team coach following Paul Ince’s defection to MK Dons earlier this week. He will be assisted by another former City hero Asa Hartford, who has joined the club after a variety of previous coaching positions. Brightwell said: “I’ve worked with a lot of great managers including the likes of Incey last season and know what it takes to be a good gaffer. That’s why I am delighted that Asa has accepted the offer to join me as I have a lot of respect for him and I know the combination of the two of us, with the support of the rest of the team, will allow us to take the Silkmen forward this season.”

Steve McManaman is Like a London Bus: Discuss: And if you answered “They’re both b****y useless on a football field”, you’d be factually correct, but I was actually looking for – you never see (or hear of) them for ages, then a couple of sightings happen almost at once. Over the weekend I heard Stevie Macca talking on Radio 5 about how he was going to be an in-studio pundit for Setanta Sports, once the Irish-based international television sports channel starts showing a chunk of Premiership games in the new season. And a couple of days later… McManaman gets appointed to the board of directors of the company that is buying into Premiership club Birmingham City. McManaman, 35, will become an executive director of Grandtop International if it goes ahead and buys a 29.2% stake in the newly-promoted West Midlands club. His rôle will be to offer advice to the group, which is owned by wealthy Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung. “They know my expertise in sport in England and in particular football,” McManaman told the South China Morning Post. “I know a lot of people in the sport and I have a lot of contacts. I will help out and give ideas as a friend as the people involved in the company are very good friends of mine and hopefully we can have exciting times in the future.”

Career Down the Sinc: Trevor Sinclair’s still looking for a new club after not being offered a new contract by the Blues. And he’s expressed his disappointment at how his City career panned out. “I was really sad to leave City, as I was not as successful in my time there as I know I could have been,” Sinclair said. “Out of all the clubs I have played for, I believe it’s the first time I’ve left and not really won the fans over.” He had his moments at the COMS of course – scoring in the 4-1 and 3-1 wins versus the Stretford Reds, and scoring the first ever competitive goal at the stadium vs. TNS in the UEFA Cup.

The Boys Are Back: Apart from the appearance of the surly Swede on day 1 of training, there was also a sighting of a couple of long term casualties – Micah Richards and Paul Dickov are both fit again. Club doctor Mark Whittaker told mcfc.co.uk: “All the squad were given fitness programmes to adhere to during the summer break and we are delighted with their readiness for training. On top of their fitness programmes, both Micah and Paul Dickov were frequently back at Carrington during the close-season to do some extra work. They are both fully fit and have started training alongside the rest of the squad.” The club also announced that three youngsters would have different squad numbers next term (who’s deciding these things when there isn’t a manager?). Nedum Onuoha will wear number four, Michael Johnson six while Ishmael Miller moves from the number 43 shirt up to squad number 27.

OPINION: WEAVER I

The treatment of Nick Weaver by the club beggars belief. Is this the way to repay 10 years of loyalty by reneging on an agreed contract with the ex-Manager, then letting his contract lapse on June 30th?

Would he have been welcome at the first day of pre-season training today, as he was technically unemployed?

This, added to the whole prolonged takeover, and the “Sven meeting the players at Carrington even though he isn’t manager yet” thing I have just seen on Sky Sports News has been a PR shambles, and could only happen at City.

Stand by for over-inflated transfer fees for players who, like the manager-elect and most of Kevin Keegan’s signings, are only coming for the money. I feel more distant than ever from my beloved club. The slogan adorning my new LCS home shirt “Hate Football, Love City” has never felt more appropriate.

OPINION: WEAVER II

It’s like a death in the family. For years I’ve marvelled at Nicky Weaver’s bravery and his loyalty to Manchester City and unlike some people I still rate him as a very good ‘keeper, Charlton have got a bargain.

Unlike a lot of people, I don’t think the Swedish No. 1 is that much better ‘keeper than Nicky; hopefully I’ll be proved wrong, but he didn’t fill me with confidence the times I saw him play.

The one I’ll be most interested to see his development is Schmeichel Jr. If he becomes half as good as his dad, well the mind boggles what he could do. Even Peter when playing for us that one year, and playing injured a lot of the time, was still better than anyone else.

So the circus is back in town huh? Sven’s here or is he? Gee, you don’t want to read all the web pages, you wouldn’t know whether you’re Arthur or Martha. As much as I would love the team I’ve supported for forty years do really well under the new regime, we’ve sold our souls, City will never be the same City as we have all loved.

OPINION: WEAVER III

Which joker thought it was a good idea not to offer Nicky Weaver a new contract?

Irrespective of the fact that he did a good job for us last season, the club has invested a shedload of cash in the lad over the past few years, and that was starting to be repaid with strong performances for much of last season and a return to some sort of match finesse.

Then we let him go for nowt – so all of that investment has paid us back just half a season – they may as well have just burnt the cash. Our board seem to have no understanding of the concept of return on investment. To lose two of Weaver, Barton, Distin on frees and one through a sell on clause, all to Premiership rivals, smacks of serial mismanagement by the board.

Is the idea to evaluate stats on the current squad, look at whether they have achieved reasonable performances over the last year or two, and then let go of the ones that did? Don’t our board get any of the papers that do assessments of player performance?

Baldy had better sign some quality.

P.S. Charlton aren’t in the Premiership any more. It’s still c**p letting Weaver go though.

OPINION: THE TAKEOVER I

I found the comments in MCIVTA 1341 regarding the takeover fascinating and agree with the majority of what was said.

I too am intrigued to know what Thaksin’s ulterior motives are in his insistence that he will only take the Club over once 75% of shares are acquired. Surely, once he had undertakings for 51% and if he had the best interests of City at heart, he would have paid his cash and taken over? He could have proved he was sincere, acquired the remaining shares in due course. The new Manager could have been installed, bought his players and given us a fighting chance of having a squad ready for action come on 11th August.

Instead, we are still left in limbo, no one seems to be running the club, the players return to training this Thursday with Kenny Jackett in charge. Weaver and Ball not knowing if they are part of the set up, as neither has a contract yet. Dabo and Corrardi, who don’t want to be with us, still picking up money under their contracts. The whole episode is a complete shambles and the blame lies with the present Board of Directors.

The closing date for the acceptance of the offer is 17th July, so I can’t see anything realistically happening until then. I have a reasonable shareholding in the Club and resent being told by a ‘club spokesman’ that I am holding up the deal by not sending in my acceptance. Instead, the spokesman should be directing his concern to Messrs Wardle and Mackintosh for selling the club too cheaply, at a loss to the majority of shareholders, to a guy with questionable intentions. They should also be hauled ‘over the coals’ for the unbelievable length of time the negotiations have taken and making sure at the end of the day, they come out fine by retaining their involvement in the Club. The whole deal should have been concluded on the last day of the season, not 2 weeks before the new season begins.

It is likely Thaksin will gain his 75% eventually, at that time the Club is lost to its supporters and its roots but what was plan B if he hadn’t, putting the Club into liquidation?

OPINION: THE TAKEOVER II

I’m not an undercover from the corporation of Man City plc, but here’s my view on the takeover. Our City lives will go on as usual, given that Thai Sinatra’s dubious source of cash was shown the green light by whatever authorities. Debt cleared, new players brought in, and if everything goes well, we actually get some results on the pitch, then all this Sinatra sh!te will be behind us, at least for the majority of us.

Look at the Rags, they already forgot their ‘Blazer Un*ted’ tag after the title. Well I guess there will be a small batch of die-hards who will discontinue their season ticket, boycott etc. but frankly, I dun’t have the balls to turn my back on my team. It’s downright hypocritical to pretend I’m not happy if we miraculously came fourth and win the League Cup next season. Let’s pray that Sinatra will pass the audit of his accounts (even if it means bribing officials), and kick off the team restructuring.

City till I die, and I mean it!

OPINION: THE TAKEOVER III

All this moaning from City fans about the takeover and who the new manager might be… lest we forget about ten years ago where the club was (First Division not PL and soon to be even worse) with a man in charge everyone couldn’t wait to get into the club and welcomed with open arms (Mr Lee) after driving out Peter Swales and seeing that their actions possibly led to his death in the end (is that a human rights issue?).

What happened to Franny Lee (the saviour)? He was hounded out too with his manager Alan Ball – remember Liverpool away, twice!?

We’ve had a former player running the club, the reluctant chairman with a fellow fan running the club, all with limited success. So why not welcome Thaksin and Sven? I’m sure they will have the same grand ideas that previous regimes did but this time they have both the money and pull to attract top players to City. Just look at some of the names being linked coming to the club; if SP was still in charge would these names even be on the same page?

We’re used to a rollercoaster ride but this one might well run smoothly rather than crashing into the house of horrors!

Keep the faith – this time it might just work.

OPINION: THE TAKEOVER IV

Further notes to those who still haven’t sold their shares.

• Fact. If Fowler had have scored that goal against Middlesbrough and we’d have been doing well in the fabled ‘Top Six’ we, as a club wouldn’t be in this situation. He didn’t and we are still. Easily rectifiable if you sell your shares.
• Fact. TS is willing to clear the debt accrued by the silly ‘risk on future season ticket sales’ deal. The debilitating financial ball and chain around our neck. To do this he needs control. Just look at what happened to Leeds – exactly the same situation at City. If Shinawatra does indeed borrow against the assets he now owns, the payment will be on a standard loan repayment deal. Not the crippling never never previous loans we had been on.
• Fact. To those who are still holding on to their shares – if you are not willing to sell, could you please stump up an extra £2.00 as in effect this is what Shinawatra is doing – this will be the large transfer kitty we are all waiting on.
• Fact. If you do not understand what this means to the importance of our Club’s future then you really shouldn’t be holding shares in the club. It is imperative you sell, regardless of your personal standing on the ‘ethics’. Failure to do so could be almost incomprehensible.

OPINION: THAD’S ARTICLE McV 1341

Stand up and take a bow, sir. What a wonderful and thought provoking overview.

OPINION: MOAN, MOAN, MOAN

Well, these are some of the most long winded gripes I have ever seen!

I am just not sure what to think. On the one hand is the idea that we will finally have money to spend with a manager that may not waste it. On the other hand there are all those tortured Thailanders.

Do we really have to think about it that much?

It would not be City fans if we weren’t going through this, nothing is ever easy for us.

REQUEST: SYDNEY BLUES

As a Blue now living in Oz, I’m looking for where the other Blues meet up to watch games. I’m based in Sydney so if any of you out there (here) would like to get in contact I’d really appreciate it.

REQUEST: AWAY DAY BLUES

Please let me introduce our country pub and restaurant: Rachell’s, ideally situated just off junction 28 on the M1 motorway. We offer good beers, good bar meals and ample parking for coaches en route to away games. If you would like to take advantage of our services please book in advance on 01773 811248 and visit our website at http://www.rachells.com/. Good luck with the next campaign.

MCIVTA FAQ [v0607.01]

[1] MCIVTA Addresses

Articles (Heidi Pickup)          : editor@mcivta.city-fan.org
News/rumour (Don Barrie)         : news@mcivta.city-fan.org
Subscriptions (Madeleine Hawkins): subscriptions@mcivta.city-fan.org
Technical problems (Paul)        : paul@city-fan.org
FAQ (David Warburton)            : faq@mcivta.city-fan.org

[2] What are MCIVTA’s publishing deadlines?

Deadlines for issues are nominally 6pm, Monday and Thursday evenings bu email. Unfortunately we cannot accept email attachments.

[3] MCIVTA Back Issues and Manchester City Supporters’ home page

http://www.uit.no/mancity/ is the unofficial Manchester City Supporters’ home page. Created in 1994, it is the longest running of the Manchester City related web sites. Back issues of MCIVTA are also hosted on the site.

[4] What is the club’s official web site?

The official club web site can be found at http://www.mcfc.co.uk/

[5] What supporters’ clubs are there?

Manchester City FC recognises three supporters’ clubs: The “Official Supporters Club” (http://www.mcfcosc.com/); the “Centenary Supporters’ Association” (http://www.reddishblues.com/CSAWebsite/CSA.htm) and “The International Supporters’ Club”.

[6] Where can I find out about the fans’ committee?

The Fans’ Committee operates as an interface between supporters and the club. The Fans’ Committee has been relaunched as “Points of Blue”. It has appeared on the club website as a minor entry under “Fans Zone”.

[7] What match day broadcasts are available on the web?

The Radio Manchester (née GMR) pre and post match phone-in is available on the web at http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/sport/manchester_city/index.shtml.

Live match commentaries and archives of games, reports and interviews can be found at http://mcfc.videoloungetv.com/do/preLogin?clubSiteCode=MCFC&CMP=AFC-003.

[8] Where can I find out if City are live on satellite TV?

http://www.satfootball.com/pl.html provides a listing of Premiership games being shown on UK domestic and foreign satellite channels. Useful sites for North American viewers are http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer, http://www.soccertv.com/, and http://www.livesoccertv.com/.

[9] Do we have a Usenet newsgroup?

Yes we do: uk.sport.football.clubs.man-city is our home on usenet. If you are not familiar with usenet, a basic explanation is available here: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,289893,sid9_gci213262,00.html

[10] Do any squad members have their own web pages?

There are a number available and direct links can be found at http://www.uit.no/mancity/players/

[11] Can I buy shares in the club?

Yes you can: Shares in Manchester City PLC are traded on OFEX. The latest prices can be on found the Plus Markets Group web site http://www.plusmarketsgroup.com/ or in the business section of the Manchester Evening News.

[12] Where can I find match statistics?

Statistics for the current season are available from the club site, but for a more in-depth analysis try http://www.mcfcstats.com/.

[13] I hear there is a TV programme specifically about City?

InsideMCFC is broadcasted by ChannelM. It is available on the SkyDigital (ch.203) and NTL (ch.26) platforms as well as being transmittedtraditionally within the Manchester area (ch.39). In addition, theprogramme is available to watch via the web. More details and schedule:http://www.channelm.co.uk/features/city.html

DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in MCIVTA are entirely those of the subscribersand there is no intention to represent these opinions as being thoseof Manchester City Football Club, nor of any of the companies anduniversities by whom the subscribers are employed. It is not inany way whatsoever connected to the club or any other relatedorganisation and is simply a group of supporters using this mediumas a means of disseminating news and exchanging opinions.

Don Barrie, editor@mcivta.city-fan.org

Editor: