Michael Jackson Is Too Big For Bahrain

Michael Jackson appears to be a man on the move once again.

The singer is severing his ties with many of his business managers, lawyers and accountants as he restructures his finances and career. He also plans on setting up his principal residence somewhere in Europe, though he hasn't decided where yet.

"He's just decided that with all of the projects he's going to be involved with and all of the people he's beginning to work with in the music industry, it's easier [to live in Europe]," Jackson spokeswoman Raymone Bain told Billboard.com.

Bain — who has just been named general manager of the newly created Michael Jackson Co., which replaces his MJJ Productions company — added that her boss has been visiting Ireland and France, where he took his children to Euro Disney. He's also been "having a number of meetings charting out his musical future and his career."

The former King Of Pop announced earlier this year that he planned to release a new album next year and was pondering supporting it with a concert tour.

Jackson will maintain a home in the Middle Eastern country of Bahrain, where he's spent most of his time since being acquitted of child molestation charges last June.

In March, he was forced to shut his 2,800-acre Neverland Ranch in Santa Ynez, Calif. and was fined more than $100,000 U.S. for failing to pay its staff or maintain proper insurance. Bain said that the 47-year-old has no plans to sell the estate where he was accused of having an improper relationship with a young cancer victim.

"He still owns Neverland and he's still providing the funding for its upkeep. I'm sure at some point in time he will move back to Neverland. That's not out of the question. It's not in the immediate future, but it's not far-fetched."

Jackson is currently facing a $3.8-million lawsuit by former business associate F. Marc Schaffel over what the plaintiff claims are unrepaid loans and expenses, unpaid salary for work on a charity record and his share of the proceeds from two television specials. Jury selection began this week and the trial is expected to last 12 days. Jackson won't appear in the Santa Monica, Calif. courtroom but lawyers have taken two videotaped depositions from him in London, England.

The trial is expected to take a look at Jackson's free-spending ways, which allegedly include paying the late actor Marlon Brando $1 million to attend one of his concerts at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

Janet Jackson's older brother has counter-sued Schaffel, claiming that he mishandled his financial records and misappropriated artwork belonging to him.