Sorry for not commenting on this very important issue when it first happened, but I was away and unable to post, and, to be honest, trying to gather information and waiting for all parties to have their say. But now I have time I shall post exactly what Usmanov, Dein, Wenger and Edelman have said on the latest move in the Arsenal boardroom in what seems a constant struggle to keep Arsenal's traditional behind-the-scenes values the same.
Alisher Usmanov - The New Investor:
"I have been an Arsenal fan for eight years and I think the club has the best manager in the Premier League," Usmanov was quoted as saying in Friday editions of the Evening Standard. "But this purchase of mine is not a strategic or political one. It's a portfolio investment. Arsenal as a business is undervalued. My aim is to steadily increase my package because I think the value of it will grow and will soon reach a higher level. The club has everything to achieve it."
While claiming he isn't about to be part of a takeover bid, this is very hard to believe as far as I am concerned, he is merely tring not to unsettle the club more than it is by making sensational claims in my view. As far as Usmanov's comparative wealth is concerened, the Billionaire is reported to have a personal fortune of £5m, £3m more than American potential investor Kroenke.
David Dein - The Boardroom Rebel
"Today's announcement marks a significant step towards realising the vision I share with thousands of fans at home and abroad of making Arsenal the world's number one football club.
"I have not lost my passion for the club; indeed, it is greater than ever. I have been flattered by the generous offers I have received since April to work with other clubs, both in England and elsewhere. But there is only one club for David Dein and that is Arsenal.
"My immediate intention is to work with others to provide the financial resources necessary to turn the vision into reality.
"I have not lost my passion for the club; indeed, it is greater than ever. I have been flattered by the generous offers I have received since April to work with other clubs, both in England and elsewhere. But there is only one club for David Dein and that is Arsenal.
"My immediate intention is to work with others to provide the financial resources necessary to turn the vision into reality.
"To provide these financial resources, Arsenal need new investors. The reality is that football is changing dramatically. A growing number of clubs are being funded by individuals or consortia that are prepared to invest previously unimaginable sums aimed at winning the game's biggest prizes. Without new investors, I feel very soon Arsenal might not be able to compete successfully at the very top level, despite the fantastic work of Arsene Wenger."
I am unsure of David Dein personally. Yes, he's done some brilliant things for the club, but why does he feel the need for a takeover, as despite his claims he does not intend to mount a takeover just yet, it's an inevitability in my mind, just a question of time. In the mean time, any shares held by minor investors will slowly be bought up as they look to get enough of a stake as to be able to force a takeover. Yet, with our new stadium, surely as soon as our debt is cleared, we will be in as good, or better position than any other club in terms of finance. So why bother to sell out to foreign investors when it's only a short term problem, if that?
Keith Edelman - The Defender of Tradition
Edelman said: "We are in a very good position, we realise David has sold his shares to Red and White owned by Mr Usmanov, we note that but don't believe it changes anything for Arsenal FC."
"The current shareholders on the board control over 45% of shares and we believe the way the club is being run and the financial strength of the club will come through."
"The club is in a very good position, and the stadium is producing very large cash balances for us."
He told BBC Radio 5live: "We are in a very good position. We can support Arsene in anything he wants to do in developing the team or the squad, so we don't see a reason for further investment."
"The club is in a very good position, and the stadium is producing very large cash balances for us."
He told BBC Radio 5live: "We are in a very good position. We can support Arsene in anything he wants to do in developing the team or the squad, so we don't see a reason for further investment."
Arsene Wenger - Not Bovvvvered
"David decided to sell his shares because he was outside the Club now and everybody can understand that,” said the Frenchman. “He got rewarded with a good deal for the quality of his work because the shares have gone up. For the rest nothing has changed [because] the structure of the shares is the same.
“At the moment we have 50 per cent shares inside the board and 50 per cent outside, which are very much shared. Who will go with who I don't know and basically it's not my problem.
"Personally I cannot sell one share because I have none and don't want to help anybody. I don't want to be involved in a strategic struggle for shares because I consider myself an employee who wants to do well for the Club.
“At the moment we have 50 per cent shares inside the board and 50 per cent outside, which are very much shared. Who will go with who I don't know and basically it's not my problem.
"Personally I cannot sell one share because I have none and don't want to help anybody. I don't want to be involved in a strategic struggle for shares because I consider myself an employee who wants to do well for the Club.
So a position of indifference taken up by Arsenal then, a wise thing to do at this stage. The lock down agreement between investors is key, and while that remains Arsenal still have a good chance of holding out. But the agreement runs out next April, and when that happens it'll be interesting to see whether or not we'll continue to fight the battle against the tide of foreign investment that the Premiership are seemingly drowning in at the moment....
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