Arsenal’s exiting commercial director Adrian Ford said Arsenal are looking at pre-season tours of Asia and the US.
“This is something all clubs are looking at and will look to be ambitious in their expansion plans to try to develop and we’ll be no different,” Ford told the South China Morning Post.
“The fact is football is the global game, and within football the Premier League is the most successful league. As that reaches to more places around the world and builds a bigger following, there are going to be many more opportunities. Sponsors and commercial partners will find that very attractive.”
The paper points out that Man U signed deals with companies in India, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and China in the past year, and has double the commercial income of Arsenal and is second in the world club revenue league to Arsenal’s sixth.
Recruitment firm Spencer Stuart is looking for a chief operating officer and director of human resources.
In today’s transfer gossip, the Mirror goes big on St Etienne’s Blaise Matudi for £2.5m, but says he’s one for the future, as Newcastle’s Bassong (Mail) says Arsenal have approached him, but nothing can happen until the club changes ownership, which might happen soon. And perennial Gokhan Inler pops up again as a prospective target in a broadsheet.
Meanwhile a charity car – a Citroen C4 covered in artwork by satirical cartoonist Gerald Scarfe and Arsenal players will be up for auction at a South Cerney-based auctioneers on Wednesday July 22, 1pm.
Arsenal steward David Shearwood won it during a charity raffle at the Emirates stadium in May, but said it wasn’t practical and wants someone else to enjoy it. The auctioneers reckon it could fetch up to £15,000.