Manchester City executive director Taweesuk Jack Srisumrid insists chairman Thaksin Shinawatra is at the club for the long haul.

He told the Independent on Sunday: "What we will look to do in the summer is to further boost the squad, bring in top-quality, internationally recognised players. Superstars would help fill the stadium and help our global branding. Primarily, we must win on the pitch - it can't be a gimmick.

"We don't have the success of Manchester United but we can grow if we position ourselves as the Asian Premier League club.

"We have the finance for an initial investment period but we will need some returns at some point and that's where global branding comes in."

He insisted Thaksin was in it for the long haul with City and his investment was not politically motivated.

"His circumstances were scrutinised," he said of Thaksin's assets seizure and corruption charges in Thailand, "[but] it's his love for football, and he wants to build his businesses up. He enjoys success but wants to work with football now."