Arsenal’s management structure may currently be one falling into turmoil, with future of Arsene Wenger remaining uncertain and whether Ivan Gazidis is going to stick with the Gunners next season. However such uncertainty doesn’t seem to be putting one shareholder off from making an offer for the entirety of the club.
Arsenal are currently owned by a number of shareholders, with the main stakeholder Stan Kroenke, or Silent Stan as he is commonly referred as, being in control of the club’s affairs. The American is notorious for being more interested in the financial gain of owning a sports club than for the success it can bring in from achieving major honours. As a result, Kroenke focuses on making profits under a buy to sell regime rather than looking to increase gain from being a successful football club. His prioritises are often scrutinised by the fans and media alike, and it’s Kroenke’s main shareholder rival, Alister Usmanov, who is at the forefront of the attack.
Usmanov has been very critical of Kroenke in the past and today it is being reported that the Russian has again made another official offer to the Chief regarding a takeover bid for the club. Today’s reports suggest that Usmanov has made a £1 billion bid to Kroenke for the American’s majority stake in Arsenal, although it’s likely it will be rebuffed. Kroenke has turned down bids from Usmanov in the past, with his own intentions to one day buy out the Russian’s share and have full ownership over Arsenal.
Usmanov currently has the maximum stake he can hold without making an official takeover, with 30% ownership in his hands. The Russian will need to acquire Kroenke’s shares if he is to have any say in the future of Arsenal football club, something he really aspires on doing.
A change of ownership will be a positive move for the Gunners, with Kroenke having being the majority shareholder since 2011. Since then he’s been in charge of the club during a time of which the Gunners should have been thriving. Kroenke isn’t willing to offer up too many funds and as a result the Gunners have suffered to compete in the transfer market. Usmanov on the other hand is anticipated to have twice the wealth of the American businessman, an opportunity that Arsenal fans would surely desire at the club right now.
By AH