English Premier League (EPL) chairman Sir David Richards will assist the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) during negotiations over the broadcast rights to the Thai Premier League (TPL).
Worawi Makudi
FAT president Worawi Makudi yesterday said the TPL will be seeking a three-year deal, beginning in 2014, worth at least 600 million baht annually. Negotiations will begin in March.
"Sir David has agreed to be our adviser," Worawi said. "There is now widespread interest in Thai football _ we are ranked as the fifth-best Asian league and the No.1 in Asean.
"There may be foreign companies involved in the sale, as well as cable TV companies based in Thailand."
The EPL is one of the most lucrative TV sports in the world. Cable Thai Holding recently bought its broadcast rights for three years, beginning next season, for a reported price of 10 billion baht.
Meanwhile, TPL champions SCG Muang Thong United have signed Austrian striker Roland Linz for two years.
Although his salary is yet to be agreed, Linz, 31, is expected to be one of the highest-paid players at the club.
Muang Thong director Ronnarit Suewaja said the club is pleased to confirm the new signing.
"It was not easy to bring him into the team because many teams in Europe were interested," Ronnarit said.
Linz arrives from Vienna-based FK Austria Wien, one the country's top clubs, where he was twice the top scorer in the Austrian league, in 2005-06 and 2010-11.
FA Cup and League Cup winners Buriram United have signed Costa Rica striker Ariel Santana from AD Belen for an undisclosed fee.