Thursday, November 15th, 2012 « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News. 800,000 visits last month
Black scarf movement. Are they the fans’ voice of red and white holdings?
By Cameron Wolfe
Here’s a statement from the BSM:
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We are calling for a gathering of BSM members and supporters on 1 December, before the Swansea match, to join us on a walk to ‘Bear Roundabout’ outside The Armoury.
The objectives of this walk are to heighten the Board’s awareness in the following areas:
We want Stan Kroenke’s commitment not to take money from the club.
We want Peter Hill-Wood off the Board. He has become an embarrassment to the club and its supporters.
We want Red & White Holdings to be offered a seat on the Board.
Ivan Gazidis called for us to all come together and work in the same direction but how does this work when a 30% shareholder in the club doesn’t get to have a say?
In what other large business would this blocking of a major shareholder happen?
We want action from the club to stop poor allocation of our money.
From wasting money on players we have to write off a year later, to handing out huge contracts to players who we can’t then sell on because nobody will match what we pay.
Its mismanagement and it’s the fans who get hit in the pocket because the club fails in other revenue generating areas such as commercial deals.
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On their website they also think it would be a great idea if for a home game all the Arsenal supporters boycotted the game and just marched outside? That would show the whole world how unhappy current Arsenal fans are. So even though you’ve already paid for your ticket. Don’t use it. Stand outside and protest. Nice “supporters”
Seems to me that it’s a little bit too much of a coincidence that a movement that sprung up three years ago would outline and ask for certain conditions to happen within the Arsenal board. These would all benefit the red and white movement and Usamov in particular.
Their asking for Kroenke not too take any money out of the club? He’s the majority share holder. Not the sole owner. He’s not the Glaziers. He can’t just roll up one day and ask for a ton of cash so he can transfer it to one of his other businesses. It doesn’t work like that. If Kroenke was in it solely for the money he could sell his shares openly or to Usamov and make plenty of profit from them.
They want PHW sacked. He is not in charge of any day-to-day business at the club, which is generally run by CEO Ivan Gazidis. Is it personal? If he has day to day dealings within the club, then an argument could take place. But he’s already sold off most of his shares in the club then surely he’s just the historic face of Arsenal, tracing a family connection back to the days when Sir Henry Norris was overthrown. Does he deserve to be sacked on the say so of an unofficial “supporters club”?
They want Usamov (red and white holdings) on the Board. Isn’t that up to the current board to vote him on to the board? Even though they hold a 30% holding in Arsena, owning any part of Arsenal doesn’t automatically entitle you to a seat on the board – unless you organise a takeover, which Mr Usmanov could do at any time given his wealth. It is Mr Usmanov’s decision not to attempt a takeover that has led us to this position.
Even Kroenke was invited to join the board. In most legal systems, the appointment and removal of directors is voted upon by the shareholders in a general meeting. So the other directors need to invite Usamov on to the board. Obviously at present they’re not keen on him joining them. It’s their prerogative.
On Usamov having his say? Think back to his open letter in the Summer. I think Usamov is heard very loudly when he wants to be. He is in the same boat as Kroenke though. He could easily sell some of his shares and make a healthy profit or buy more and force a takeover vote.
On him being blocked… In any other business where the Board doesn’t want a particular person on the Board, they won’t ask them on to the board. (The law on this is actually quite clear within the Companies Act, and Arsenal have acted totally within the law throughout).
Poor allocation of “our money” ? Wasted money on players/wages. Club mismanagement? Unfortunately it’s like voting in MP’s. Their charged with running the country and hope they do the best for you. Our club’s the same. But really to get a perspective on this, Arsenal has to be compared with other clubs. Other clubs make mistakes, give contracts to players who turn out not to be so good etc etc. Only a proper analysis would work here.
You hope that the management are going to do the best for the club/players/supporters. If they don’t then yes, give up your season ticket. Sell it to someone else who wants to go to the match and watch Arsenal play. Don’t watch them on TV. Take to watching something else. Support another sport.
It’s only my opinion ( which each of us is entitled too) but protesting is just like booing your team. It’s the worst form of “supporting” your team. Will it make a difference? Will someone from the Board come out and talk to the leaders? Who knows only time will tell. Me come the 1st of December I’ll be glued to the screen watching my beloved Arsenal hopefully playing fantastic football against Swansea.
Gooner for life!
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