A cautionary tale to start. The Kyiv City Council is initiating a shutdown of the Arsenal Football Club (in Keiv), is the first line of a story from Ukranian News. Could that be a scenario in 10-20 years time, Russians closing down the Arsenal? No, not if Danny Fiszman has anything to do with it.
On Wednesday, Charlie Wyett of The Sun wrote this story: Arsenal’s major shareholder held secret meetings with potential Russian investors as American Stan Kroenke began his bid to buy the club. It claims he was holding meetings with mystery men from Moscow including “a consortium including a Russian billionaire were in negotiations with the London club but could not agree on a price”.
To which Fiszman said the next day was “a total lie” and insisted the Gunners board remain committed to not selling off their shares in the north London club:”The board have always and will always act in the best interests of this football club,”
Then at the weekend – this from Fiszman: the board have no intention of selling the club to Stan Kroenke because they do not believe the US businessman will improve the Gunners.
Fiszman told Sky Sports: “We are open to anything that will improve the club but we’re going to have to be seriously convinced that it would. It’s going to be very, very difficult to explain to me and to the rest of board how you can actually make substantial investment – which would be another £400m, £500m, £600m – and expect a return for that. If it’s just an eight to 10 per cent return, you’re talking about £50m or so.
“That’s got to come out of the club, otherwise there’s no point making a purchase. I don’t know how they’re going to be able to improve the finances of the club at that sort of amount.”
Fiszman warned Kroenke that even if he were to make a formal takeover bid, the board would not fold. “The board has 45.5 per cent of the shares. We also obviously have friends which takes us over 50 per cent. They can mount a hostile bid but they’re never going to get control. The future of the club is in the hands of the board.”
It will no doubt disappoint the PR firms lining up for any potential takeover, like ambulance chasers. PR week proclaims: “Smithfield is leading the pack of agencies hunting for an advisory role on the possible takeover of Arsenal Football Club.” Smithfield is PR adviser to Rothschild, which is Arsenal’s financial adviser, and tipped to work for the board should any bid come in.
One City PRO, Holborn chairman David Bick, has already ruled himself out of working for Arsenal itself and suggested others may do the same, after chairman Peter Hill-Wood publicly baulked at the suggestion that Kroenke could launch a takeover bid. Which will be good news for the majority of fans.
Why pay for PR when you can get it free from the fans. Got a call from the FT asking about the low down on the share situation and after a ten minute interview gave them the details of a colleague at the AST, who’ve subsequently had calls on a daily basis.
Incidentally, a shareholders letter arrived Saturday, which didn’t say much different to what everyone had been able to read inthe press the day before – that Hill-Wood will meet Kroenke, but the tone says it really it is business as usual, the board will remain in control and funds will be available if Wenger wants to buy players.
David Dein’s departure has had ripples outside the Emirates, not least from the rabbi of Hendon Reform Synagogue, where Dein has been a longstanding member.
Rabbi Steven Katz, an Arsenal fan who regularly chats about football with the club’s former vice-chairman told the Jewish Chronicle: “David brought Arsenal into the 20th century and wants to take them into the 21st. Two days before all this blew up, we exchanged memories of the Arsenal teams of the 50s. But he gave no indication of what was to happen.
“He has done many good things for Arsenal and English football, and I know he feels there is a lot more to accomplish. Like General MacArthur, he will be back.”
Alex Fynn, who once played football with Mr Dein in the Association of Jewish Youth Football League, blames his departure on a conflict of interests. “David’s priority has always been the team, while the directors seem to have other priorities. Arsenal need more resources on the playing side and he left because the board wanted one thing and he wanted another.”
Arsenal “football in the community” head Alan Sefton said: “Our relationship goes back 20 years and he has always been extremely supportive. He was always willing to talk to people and encourage them to get involved.”
And in an analysis of which club is the most Jewish, Arsenal or Spurs, there’s this: the Chief Rabbi himself is a self-confessed Arsenal fan (some claim to have heard him humming “1-0 to the Arsenal” on his way to shul).
In other news: Arsenal will host a four-team pre-season tournament on the weekend of July 28 and 29. The Emirates Cup will feature the Gunners along with new Serie A champions Inter Milan, Paris St Germain and Hamburg.
Arsene Wenger says he wants to appoint an Englishman as Arsenal’s director of football, in the match programme. “I will be appointing a Director of Football to deal with a lot of the work that David did at the club. At the moment I don’t have anyone in mind for the position, there is no hurry to bring somebody in, but I have to say I am thinking about employing someone from this country, so that they know the rules and regulations of the Premiership and English football.
“They are my first thoughts, but I am still open minded to it and nothing has been decided yet. Whoever takes the job though will have to be a good communicator, know English football well, and be experienced in negotiating. In the job he will be doing every decision will be vital and a bad decision could cost the club millions, so we have to get the appointment right.”
A couple of papers report that Wenger is preparing a £2m summer move for the Caen striker Yoan Gouffran. The France Under-21 international has scored 13 goals in 32 appearances for the Ligue 2 side this season. The club could face competition from Chelsea and Paris St-Germain for the 20-year-old’s signature. One paper asserts Wenger is looking at PSV’s Kone, for £3-£4m.
Tomas Rosicky has been voted the Czech Republic’s player of the year for the third time since 2001.
Germany coach Joachim Low will meet Arsene Wenger and Jens Lehmann in London today for talks about English and international football, according to the German Football Federation. It is preparation for Euro 2008.
Four-Four-Two has a news feature on Arsenal band – The Away Boyz, a band of Gooners and a bootleg album which comprises 15 Arsenal-inspired lyrics – including Gallas to the tune of Our House by Madness’ – a chirpy homage to Big Billy – and the 50 Cent-inspired P.I.M.P. Henry.
And finally Emmanuel Adebayor is on the move, according to the Sunday Times. Agents from Foxtons have been seen showing the Togolese player some multi-million-pound properties in north London.
The footballer’s current home, a modern three-bedroom penthouse flat in Hampstead, is on the market for £2.5m. The place he is selling, which has its own sauna and screening room, is decorated with a strong African theme. It also leans to the left and has very tall ceilings.