The ultimate act of revenge? Peter Hill-Wood shakes hands with the head of the consortium bidding for Arsenal…?
It feels like this ought to be a voiceover in Geordie accent, “Friday in the football free house…“; don’t moan to me about pop culture kids, I’m just getting you in that Channel 5 frame of mind, ready for Thursday Night Football (TNF) although there are so many matches in the Europa League, it seems highly unlikely a ten-day footballing break would arise. Thinking about it, I never thought I’d say this but Michelle Platini might have a good idea in expanding the Champions League to 64 teams. In that circumstance, Arsenal would have another trophy to play for, 7th place probably being the qualifying standard in the Premier League for the qualifying rounds, 4th to get straight into the group stage…
Takeover talk is all the rage. As the High Street struggles and rapidly turns to a series of boarded up shops, football clubs remain the ultimate fashion accessory for the uber-rich. Talk of Arsenal being the latest trinket was quickly rubbished, the chairman also sticking his size 9s into the plan,
I have heard nothing and I don’t think anybody knows anything about it at the club. It all seems a bit of a waste of time. If there is this consortium,they can’t make any progress unless they attempt to get in touch. So I can’t say if there is anything to it or not.
But even if they did make an approach, my understanding is our two major shareholders do not want to sell.
Indeed they do not, Mr Chairman, although PHW doesn’t have a particularly good record when it comes investors in Arsenal, from Dein and Kroenke subjected to barbs from The Bard Of The Boardroom. In fact, our chum from the former Soviet bloc is intent on continuing to purchase new shares to add to his collection, coming within 5 shares of the magical 30%. Well, I say within 5, many believe he reached the total some time ago but held them through acquaintances at a long enough arms reach to not be readily indentifiable as such.
The threshold itself is meaningless. Premier League rule changes mean no new doors open for Red & White whilst the Takeover Panel long ago lifted any requirement for a bid for the club. Does it even hold any media significance beyond having journalists happy to listen to the PR surrounding how good an owner Red & White would be. Some claim such a shareholding should bring a right to sit at the board table; Red & White claim they do not want to do so but the club are not slacking with all stadium tours being watched carefully lest the Uzbek gentleman with a dodgy beard take the chance to sit in Stan’s seat for a photo opportunity.
I have never seen a coherent argument put forward for them to be offered such a position in the club. Nothing of any substance beyond the usual platitudes of shareholdings and successful businessmen. Arguably KSE is run by successful businessmen in a more relevant arena; sport. Neither situation which involves either KSE or Red and White owning the club is acceptable, for differing reasons neither are palatable. Yet it is what it is and supporters are powerless to change it.
30% gives nothing more than nuisance value; I suppose that his supporters might turn round and use it to continue to rattle sabres about how unjust the scenario is but in truth, it is nothing. FFP renders the Sugar Daddy neutered to varying degrees. For Arsenal, this is the perceived saviour; whether the Emporer is wearing new clothes will soon be seen.
Elsewhere yesterday’s silly season continues today with memories of Grange Hill‘s “Just Say No” evoked by reports of Arsène’s interest in Yaya Sanogo which is a headline-writers’ dream if it falls through, “Yaya says Nogo To Arsenal” or if he gets injured, “Yaya’s Out At The Emirates“. You can sense the piggy banks being shaken in Highbury House already…
’til Tomorrow.
Miami.
Happy wife means happy life and more hopefully more frequent sex. You obviously have your priorities correct.;).
too true mate
Okay I’m out, enjoy your day all.
@MA
No I completely agree that it is down to the players wanting to play and not only play but wanting to win. It does look as though some players find it ok to be just average or only play up to part of their skill and talent level. For me its more about getting the best out of what you have and adding to a foundation. The foundation is set(Jack, Theo, Podolski, Mert, Santi, SCNZY and the lot) but we have yet to add to that with players who are essentially in their prime or are pre-prime. Not only that but a shake up in ownership might be a good thing because of the fact that they seem to have become lacadasical in the thinking that as long as we make money(4th and CL) Stan will not say anything as he has done. Maybe under a owner who actually comes to matches and is passionate not only about the sport but the club will force players to realize that they have to perform or risk getting replaced. Hence why I say Wenger and Usmanoz would have to work in tandem with Wenger being the voice of reason to the passion of the Zillionare.
@MA
I like you and many other Gooners and Gunners worldwide don’t trust the board at all especially when it comes decisions between making money and doing whats best of the team. What will they do this summer regarding Sagna, personally I expect the Silent Stan’s to cash in on him rather than offer the best RB in the PL a 2 year extension. If somebody came with 25-30M for Santi, would I expect them to sell him, I would hope they tell whoever it is to fuck off and go kill themselves but knowing them they would sell him and then tell us that he was unhappy hear.
Steve has definitely mastered the fine British art of the whinge hasnt he?
Nice link, Jonny.
C:
Trying to have useful discussion might be a hopeless cause today. Hopefully you can find someone to take the bait. Myself I have other things to do and I am getting ready for our yearly dad/kid bonding trip to Disney world. Happiest place on earth and even if we lose the game next week it would not spoil my mood.. Even at my age I still love the place. Have a great weekend everyone.
Fair enough then, YW, and thanks for clarifying.
@Bill
You may very well be right mate not to mention I’m terribly bored at work currently drinking(yup alcohol) and watching movies on netflix to pass the day. Enjoy Disney World as you are not the only person to enjoy it as I do as well. Personally I go every year whether its with friends or family. Enjoy mate!
Looks like I haven’t missd too much, though I haven’t had a chance to tell you about our long gray haired kitten…
If the consortium exists, I would encourage AST and AiSA to ask for a revival of the Fan Share scheme to allow up to 10 or 20 % like Swansea to be held with some board representation. I’d support that over either of these two current big shareholders who don’t seem committed to any fan input and stake in the club.
Arsenal should be innovators as a club.
Bale was booked for diving and the English press are not talking about it.Is it because Bale the record diver is a brit or what?Anyway, I guess if it was Mr Suarez…….
@gunnerlife
Honestly I for one think its cause he is a brit. When Suarez did it he was called all type of names adn was basically put to shame by EVERYBODY but because its one of their own its fine more because its Bale. Honestly I’m growing tired
Funny how theres nary a peep when any British players dive but if any of the Johnny Foreigners like Suarez or Eduardo dive theres immediately inquiries with heads of state, suspensions, talk of eradicating it from the game, tar, feathers and the whole nine.
Pure arrogance at it’s finest.
@ Steve
Nope
@Loomer
I oculdn’t have said it better myself but that’s everything British. I mean look at the difference between when Suarez dived and Bale now. Another example is unfortunately the Suarez race row and how he was basically being tarred and feather not to mention trying to eradicate him from the PL but for John Terry it wasn’t even to the same level.
Just saw a tweet saying that the takeover bid is real and Usmanov is involved. Urgh…obviously it’s a rumour at present but the idea of this happening fills me with dread.
gunnerlife
You can’t talk about it – Tom Daley is the pre-eminent British diver…
Miami
Vienna & Berlin? Bloody Hell, it’s like an 80s pop mixtape….
@Zinc
You prefer Silent Stan?
C
It’s a crap question really, isn’t it. Do you prefer Evil or Nastiness? Do you prefer inertia or sloth?
They are both bloody useless.
@yogi
I completely agree with you but I also wouldn’t mind bloody uselessness if it would be more passionate and care about my club both financially and more importantly on the pitch.
Yogi:
One of the biggest issues with inertia is that no one is preparing for the day that Arsene does retire. Whomever we bring in to manage can’t be expected to do everything that arsene has been doing. That would be totally overwhelming and a disaster I suspect. Do you expect even a remote possibility of changes with the status quo? You talked about this in one of your recent posts. No way to know for sure but with sloth there would be a better chance of some movement to modernize the board and bring some help for Arsene I suspect. No?
The guy is an avowed Man United supporter, Bill. Usmanov has got sabotage written all over him.
Loomer:
Never heard that about him being a United fan. I am not a fan of the Uzbek but why would he spend all of this money only to sabotage? Do you really think he would put in his money just to take help the Glazers at ManU? He is going to have to make a huge investment to buy the club. The club has money in the bank but not nearly enough to to recoup how much it would cost to buy out Stan. If he is planned to start pulling money out of the club to fill his own pockets that would damage the overall value of the club. The last thing he would want would be for the club’s stock value to go south. The only way for him to really make money is for the overall value of the club to go up and that would come with success. No?
C – it depends on whether our policies over the past few years are down to the owner & board or down to Wenger.
Because this is the situation as I see it:
We have healthy cash balances in our reserves, the new deal with The Emirates which helps plug our £20 millionish shortfall and leaves us as a break even – £5 million annual profit club without player or property sales. Then we have the new manufacturer deal coming up with adds another £15 millionish in yearly revenue, add to that the massive new TV deals and huge potential for secondary sponsorship growth and we make guaranteed profits in the tens of millions every year – these are profits which can be spent within the rules of FFP.
So, if Stan is just letting the football people at the club get on with it and letting us truly be self sustaining then what exactly is the need for Usmanov and his money? Money we couldn’t spend within the rules of FFP. As I said, unless the current owner is blocking the manager from operating properly in the transfer market then Stan is more than welcome to be silent and Usmanov is more than welcome to move on.
It is really good that Arsenal are the only club who will benefit from a large hike in TV cash next season
Some people have suggested that as every club will receive an equivalent increase that it will be a neutral issue in relation to comparative income, just another opportunity for agents to screw every club over
How foolish are they ?
Owners ?
And for all my life I thought they were philanthropists whose only purpose was to give me a jolly time when I went to watch the soccer
The veil has been lifted I can tell you
Anicoll – I’m referring to whether this club makes profits or makes losses. It has absolutely nothing to do with any other team on the planet.
I feel like the guy behind the desk sometimes.
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Zinc,
Presumably Usmanov could ensure that one of his companies, like Megafon became a top sponsor, so funds can “legitimately” find their way into the club.
Perhaps Kroenke could sign a deal for exclusive distribution rights of Arsenal kit through Walmart! Or arsenal members get a free chocolate frog when shopping at Walmart.
Either that or sell cattle branded with the Arsenal emblem from one of his big ranches.
Make wagyu redundant.
Sell global memberships, so you could see The Arsenal, the Rams and the Nuggets all underachieve together, with the tour host being Kroenke Jnr.
The possibilities are endless.
Morning all,
http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/?p=10783