The problem however for Stan Kroenke, as we all know, is Dein’s relationship with Usmanov. It seems that the two will now only come as a package. And this club isn’t big enough for two billionaires, no club is. The only realistic option it would seem at the moment were for Dein to be given a place on the board as a representative of Usmanov. Usmanov has been angling for a place on the board since he first bought in to the club but the unsavoury nature of his character and proposed strategy for the club mean that he is unlikely to get what he wants. Dein, however, as chairman of Usmanov’s ‘Red and White Holdings’ could be offered a place on the board. However, this is still unlikely.
Alisher Usmanov
So then we are left with the last remaining option somehow allowing Usmanov into our club on a more controlling scale. It is an interesting contrast in principles for Arsenal fans. For so long we have smugly declared that we are a sustainable English owned club. But we’re not even English owned any more and whilst sustainability is desirable I wonder how many people would be happy to be boasting of success instead? Ultimately if anyone is able to swing the power towards Usmanov and Dein in the power struggle for our club it is the remaining supporters who own shares. Now I know that the AST and many others are totally unwilling to sell their shares at all and I, like many, both admire and am grateful for this. There must always be an element of fan power within clubs. But not all shareholders will feel the same way. Whether because of money or other reasons it will be interesting to see whether, when the time comes to sell, people would rather sell to ‘Red & White’ or ‘KSE’.
No we don’t want Usmanov to come in to our club, riddle it with debt and destabilise the future of the club, but neither do we want to continue along the unsuccessful on field path that we currently follow. Kroenke talks about how he is here for the ‘long-term’ and how he wants to make this club successful. But then again he also considers the teams he already owns to be successful. And, let me tell you: they are not. His NFL team is currently enjoying a barren spell that stretches back to the beginning of time. His Hockey team has not won the Stanley Cup since 2001, he boasts that his basketball team reaches the playoffs every year but Arsenal reach the Champions League every year and people aren’t satisfied with that. The only team he has that has enjoyed any recent success was his MLS team that won the league. But not by coming first, they won through the playoffs.
I’m not saying that Usmanov is our best choice, far from it. I think the mistrust aimed at him is more than justifiable, but David Dein is the one man who could truly come back in to Arsenal and be the catalyst for a stagnating boardroom. It just depends how much people are willing to sacrifice to bring back Wenger’s old partner.
Click HERE to see the original article. This article was first published on FootballFanCast
