Uzbeki billionaire Alisher Usmanov wants to increase his Arsenal shareholding in move that could spark a boardroom power struggle. Usmanov, the club's second biggest shareholder, is trying to increase his stake to 30 per cent. He currently owns just over 29 percent but will write to the club's smaller shareholders this week, offering to buy shares at £14,500 each. Reaching the 30 per cent threshold would make Usmanov eligible for the Premier League's owners and directors test. Passing the test would clear the way for Usmanov to secure a seat on Arsenal's board of directors. But whether Usmanov - who is rated as the 35th richest person in the world - would be offered a place on the Gunners' top table remains to be seen. Usmanov has been critical of Stan Kroenke's current regime for what he sees as a lack of investment in the playing squad and his potential appointment is likely to cause fractions at boardroom level. Meanwhile, Kroenke will be quizzed by Arsenal supporters when he attends the club's Annual General Meeting later this month. The Gunners hierarchy are confident the American businessman - who owns 66.1 per cent of the club - will attend the meeting on October 27. His expected presence will be the first time Kroenke has engaged with Arsenal fans since his takeover was ratified by the Premier League in May. Kroenke has lived up to his billing as 'Silent Stan' during his time as Arsenal's majority shareholder. He has attended just one Arsenal fixture since his takeover, the 1-1 home draw against Liverpool on April 17 - leaving some supporters questioning his commitment to the club. From: DailyMail === He hasn't been invited onto the board, I'm not sure how much I'd like him involved really. If he was on the board but not allowed to invest his own money, I'd have no problem with that. I want the club to continue being self-sustraining in the long-term, and fully compliant with the FFP rules. He might kick-start things, he clearly must be a good businessman.
The fact that Silent Stan has attended only 1 fixture since his takeover is damning. He will make a killing on his investment in Arsenal and just walk off when it suits him regardless of the sucess of our footballing position or otherwise. I think that Usmanov is a shady character but how many billionaires are not? We have only needed a little more investment in the playing staff over the years to get us to the top, this has been neglected badly and we now need major investment, I think Usmanov will eventually win this battle but it's a difficult one and we need to hear more from the muppet Kroneke before we can close the door on him.
Interesting development. Currently, it's a misnomer that one of our biggest shareholders is frozen out at board level. Whatever Usmanov's alleged shady past, at a basic business level, this is quite abnormal. If Usmanov forces through a takeover, then Kronke will be ruing the fact that he didn't keep him closer and involve him earlier. Usmanov has made no secret of the fact that he would like to use his own cash to invest in the squad.
Usmanov can't force through a takeover. Kroenke just has to say no and he retains his share. I don't want to see vast swathes invested into the club - though I wouldn't mind it if Usmanov paid off all the debt!! Tho I'd probably still see it as cheating. Kroenke hasn't done anything wrong so far, he just hasn't said much. I wanted him to come in, and just improve the marketability of the club, maximise the profits from outside of the footballing business. I'm not sure if he's doing that, the next couple of sets of accounts will certainly help to gauge it. For me, Kroenke still has my backing right now, and I can't see that changing any time soon. He's never sold a share in any sports team he's bought.
Think back to the boardroom struggles that existed at Liverpool last year and how that impacted the team, performances and player/manager committment, I'd prefer to do without any bitter battles...
Like Grizzly says, if Usmanov were to be invited on to the board there would be uproar within the club.
Whatever we may think of Usmanov,with the size of his shareholding he should be invited onto the board
Guess we'll have to wait and see what happens. I agree that he has a right and shouldn't be left out in the cold. I just want someone to invest in the club. We are badly needing it and I don't see the FFP rules helping us much. We may be OK from the financial POV but our sporting side needs a lot of shoring up. If that were not to happen it could have a domino effect.
Maybe we need some uproar as its not as if the performances can be much worse! The current board are not fit for purpose anyway, I think the vast majority of fans want changes in this area and to at least see Dein baack at the club in a role.
Some perspective needed here Gunner. We're 4 from 2 in the CL and well placed to qualify for the knockout stages for the whatever consecutive season, I know we've suffered in the league but it's been a tough start, a couple of wins and it'll all look different. We won;'t be relegation material....
I know that mate, but that's not asking much we will improve I have no doubt, my real concern is that it won't be enough for top 4. Given the somewhat downward trend on the pitch over the last number of years I feel if we don't make changes I only see more of the same. I am one of the more optimistic people on here but right now I am torn between real change at all levels and sadly I don't see this season panning out well with current team and tactics being employed but certainly there is room for improvement. I would not take too much heart from those CL displays, we could have been well beaten in germany and were very poor at home to Olympiacos but they were of course decent end results.
The only thing i can see his money being used for, without basically making us like city is to pay off the debt, then allow the club to pay him back without any interest rate etc, if i remember correctly we pay about 20 mil a year ontop of paying off the debt So we'd basically have an extra 20 mil a season to spend
Mate i'm no fan of the board either but I don't see how constant bickering of how the club should be run will help us. I cannot remember one club who have ownership problems doing well.
I thought Germany was one of our better performances ! I get where you're coming from mate, and believe me I understand the frustrations you and others have, I just believe that we might have to suffer a couple more lean years then we'll be as well placed as anyone to win, and we would have done it the right way and kept our values as a club. I also appreciate that I'm probably in a minority now.....
Usmanov has strong links to the Russian mafia and has probably been involved in criminal activity in the past. However he is an Arsenal fan and alot of his recent comments are starting to make me think he could well be a good owner: a few examples.. "If the role of a board member is to oversee a trophyless period, while making significant personal profits and asking fans to pay inflation-busting ticket price increases then, no, I would not want to be on the board. "If instead it is to try to deliver sustained success, to increase your personal investment in the club, to help develop the commercial position and to ensure the fans have a say in the running of the club then, yes, I think I certainly have something to contribute. "The Premier League is one of the most competitive in the world and whilst we have consistently challenged for honours, the club needs to develop talent and buy top-class players to win the trophies we all crave. This requires greater investment which, I believe, has been lacking thus far "What however is not clear is whether the board shares this view. For too long they have seemed happy to sanction second, third and fourth as being acceptable, whilst at the same time they are planning to sell their shares." This is particularly interesting.. "In terms of doing things differently, let me give you a very clear example. Arsenal has all of its major commercial contracts coming up for renewal in the next couple of years. "It's no secret that to maximise the value of those you want to have success on the field and be winning trophies. To do that you need to invest now in building a winning team. This is simple commercial logic. Whether it comes to pass, we shall see."
Now is the time to invest, particularly with the BIG contracts up for renewal after next season. Top 4 is a *MUST* this season, build on that next year, and then negotiate the new contracts from a strong position. In the long term, if the contracts between them are worth an extra 30m, it's totally worth spending that extra 30m now. Usmanov in my opinion should be allowed into meetings as a guest, and after signing a contract stating high penalties for revealing or speculating on anything discussed. He doesn't necessarily have to be aboard member to be invited. Kroenke is strong enough in his share holding to repel any attempted takeover, and I think Usmanov's business accumen should be utilised as he's built a personal fortune. Arsenal doing well is beneficial to both Kroenke and Usmanov, so I'd personally rather they worked together. I don't want Usmanov investing Billions in the club, but I do want the two of them to work together for the benefit of the club. I don't see why they can't divide up the world - Kroenke concentrating on Asia, America, Africa - Usmanov on Russia, the Arab States and Europe marketing-wise. They could even put a little wages on who can grow income the most proportionally. A few million would make it fun!!
