Alisher Usmanov has slammed the Arsenal board, past and present, blaming the club’s failures on the lack of heavy investment during previous transfer windows.
The billionaire from Uzbekistan believes that the board members are too worried about making their own ‘significant personal profits’ to invest their cash in “needed” big-money signings, despite the ‘trophyless period’ we’ve all had to endure since our FA Cup triumph against Manchester United in 2005.
Last April, Stan Kroenke increased his stake to 62 percent, ultimately making him the majority shareholder of Arsenal Football Club. This deal allowed Kroenke to take control, leaving Alisher Usmanov with very little influence at the club.
Alongside his apparent “love” for Arsenal, Usmanov has claimed that the Arsenal board has been detrimental towards the club’s fans, suggesting that the current Arsenal board now needs to invest, if the club are to achieve success again.
“Arsenal has all of its major commercial contracts coming up for renewal in the next couple of years.
“It is no secret that to maximise the value of those you want to have success on the field and to be winning trophies. To do that you need to invest now in building a winning team.
“This is simple commercial logic. Whether it comes to pass, we shall see.”
No fan should be happy about the ticket price hike, and rightly so.
An increase in ticket prices just doesn’t seem right after the painful six-year trophy drought we’ve all had to endure.
I understand where Usmanov is coming from, I really do. From a business point of view, I can’t argue with what he’s said. In a business sense, he’s completely right. As the saying goes, you’ve got to spend money to make money.
Sadly, it isn’t easy as that. Especially when you’re running a club such as unique as Arsenal – a club with such a logically sustainable financial model.
I’ll get straight to the point, and say this bluntly. I cannot trust him, and I admit that I probably never will.
Why? Because I believe this is just a bitter outburst from a businessman of such huge ambition who, for once, is not getting his own way.
I accept that I will probably never find out for myself, but if you’re a billionaire, you will always have the ability to support your own personal ambitions – no matter how demanding.
And when you’re in such a position, you’re always going to be upset when things don’t, or in this case, can’t go your way.
Regarding Arsenal FC, I don’t know what Usmanov plans to do in the future. But I believe he will do something soon, because he has to.
Like the club itself, it’s certain that a man of such ambition won’t settle for second for too much longer and will be forced to take action to get himself into his own preferred situation, whatever that might be.
If his apparent “love” for Arsenal is genuine, then surely he’ll stick around and try to build a better future for the club, in whatever way he can… Yes, i doubt it too.
Will Alisher Usmanov stay? Only he knows. Is he content with the current situation at Arsenal Football Club? Definitely not – this outburst is obvious proof for that.
As long as Silent Stan stays in power, I believe it’s incredibly unlikely that we’ll see Alisher Usmanov make developments, in terms of his involvement at the club.
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