Arsenal Supporters’ Trust want clarification from battling Stan Kroenke & Alisher Usmanov

Stan Kroenke – Josh Kroenke

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The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust (AST) want Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov to give a firm indication of their vision for the future of the club as the battle for power at the Emirates continues.

Kroenke Sports Enterprises (KSE), who originally held a 9.9 per cent share in the club, last month took a controlling interest in Arsenal’s parent holding company after reaching an agreement for with Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith and the late Danny Fiszmann, which necessitated a formal offer for the remaining capital at £11,750 a share – valuing the club at £750 million.

However, Usmanov, who holds a 27% stake in the club and is worth about £12.4 billion, has no intention of selling his shares through Red and White Holdings and is instead buying out minority shareholders at £14,000 a share.

This has led to the AST urging other shareholders not to sell-up as they do not want the club to go into private ownership as they face a 6.5% increase in ticket prices for next season.

KSE are set to complete their offer on May 27 and Red and White Holdings are due to send out a letter to minority shareholders with their intentions, and the AST want clarification on both parties’ intentions.

“Rather than just make a cash offer for the shares, Arsenal supporters want to know what their ownership would offer for the future of the club,” AST spokesman Tim Payton said.

“Supporter shareholders are less motivated by money and more focused on the club’s values and plans for future success.

“On Monday, there was a vote taken of all members of Arsenal Fanshare, and 95.3% were against accepting the Kroenke offer.

“We still advise small shareholders to hold their shares because it is about joint custodianship of the club.”

Only time will tell how the power battle pans out but supporters will want it to be sooner rather than later with manager Arsene Wenger looking to splash the cash during the summer.