Comments on: Alisher Usmanov Increases His Stake in Arsenal http://www.runofplay.com/2009/02/16/alisher-usmanov-increases-his-stake-in-arsenal/ Attacking Football Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:36:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paul_Brooklyn http://www.runofplay.com/2009/02/16/alisher-usmanov-increases-his-stake-in-arsenal/#comment-4233 Paul_Brooklyn Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:29:00 +0000 http://www.runofplay.com/?p=7445#comment-4233 I have variously heard that the board has only undertaken the changes to financial structure, or transfer of equity Usmanov's 25% stake allows him to block, twice in the past 25 years. So I'm not worried at all about the the number bearing any actionable significance. My long term concern, is that the current board is under-capitalized to run a football club in the modern era, and has undertaken their financial strategies less to move the club forward, than to protect their specific control of the club. Unfortunately, I don't see a solution; Usmanov is obviously the most bad, but I am no fan of Kroenke (unlike, apparently most Gooners who transformed him from American interloper to white knight, once the fat Uzebeki head loomed). I also, have my doubts that the current board is truly operating in the best interests of the club. I can, and do appreciate the aesthetics of their old-Etonian, "chin up boy, its only a leg" style. I just don't think its sustainable. I have variously heard that the board has only undertaken the changes to financial structure, or transfer of equity Usmanov’s 25% stake allows him to block, twice in the past 25 years. So I’m not worried at all about the the number bearing any actionable significance.

My long term concern, is that the current board is under-capitalized to run a football club in the modern era, and has undertaken their financial strategies less to move the club forward, than to protect their specific control of the club.
Unfortunately, I don’t see a solution; Usmanov is obviously the most bad, but I am no fan of Kroenke (unlike, apparently most Gooners who transformed him from American interloper to white knight, once the fat Uzebeki head loomed).

I also, have my doubts that the current board is truly operating in the best interests of the club.
I can, and do appreciate the aesthetics of their old-Etonian, “chin up boy, its only a leg” style. I just don’t think its sustainable.

]]> By: KingSnake http://www.runofplay.com/2009/02/16/alisher-usmanov-increases-his-stake-in-arsenal/#comment-4191 KingSnake Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:36:11 +0000 http://www.runofplay.com/?p=7445#comment-4191 Going public is the worst thing any club can do ... Going public is the worst thing any club can do …

]]> By: Brian Phillips http://www.runofplay.com/2009/02/16/alisher-usmanov-increases-his-stake-in-arsenal/#comment-4170 Brian Phillips Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:06:27 +0000 http://www.runofplay.com/?p=7445#comment-4170 More from the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/4641328/Alisher-Usmanov-tightens-grip-on-Arsenal.html" rel="nofollow"><em>Telegraph</em></a> on the significance of the move from Usmanov's perspective (Red & White is his holding company): <blockquote> Under City rules the stake allows Red & White can now [<em>sic</em>] block any attempts by the existing Arsenal board to change the financial structure of the club or transfer equity to board members without its approval. </blockquote> More from the Telegraph on the significance of the move from Usmanov’s perspective (Red & White is his holding company):

Under City rules the stake allows Red & White can now [sic] block any attempts by the existing Arsenal board to change the financial structure of the club or transfer equity to board members without its approval.

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