Comments on: Kroenke: Attitude, aspirations and ambitions

By: The Goon Blog | AZ obliterated/Kroenke/3 points at Wolves please

The Goon Blog | AZ obliterated/Kroenke/3 points at Wolves please — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:03:00 +0000

[...] day after I wrote about Stan Kroenke’s share gobbling, (check the commenter from the Colorado Rapids blog with a good knowledge of Kroenke) he moved [...]

By: Nick Thomas

Nick Thomas — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:34:03 +0000

As a writer on the Kroenke-owned Colorado Rapids, I’d like to give my opinion here. Great piece by the way.
As an owner of the Rapids, Kroenke has done nothing except allow the club to exist. After all, it is his money that allowed the club to be founded and to continue. It’s not as if ticket receipts are going to cut it given the poor attendance at games. However, he cares nothing for this club in terms of any kind of emotional attachment. It is a vehicle for him and that’s it. He doesn’t invest in players, he never goes to games, he hasn’t allegedly even met the manager, Gary Smith.
I doubt he would have any emotional attachment to Arsenal although, once Americans actually watch football, they tend to get why non-Americans love it so much. So, he could be come a convert. My guess at this point is that he would largely leave Wenger alone. I don’t see him interfering – what right would he have to do that? He may become the owner but he would surely be wise enough to leave the footballing decisions to someone who knows what they are doing. Any such decision to buy Arsenal would therefore be strictly a business one for him. It’s not as if he would become fan. Would that really matter for Arsenal? It really matters for Colorado because he doesn’t invest anything in the team. With a well-run, profitable club like Arsenal with a gerat manager, ownership could be just a sideshow and not integral to the team. If anything, Arsenal would have some major cash to work with for new players. I just wish he would spend some of it here in Colorado where the top-earning player is paid approx GBP 200,000 a year.

By: goonertank

goonertank — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:03:29 +0000

Even if he ends up as owner very little will change. The clubs mantra is self sustainability. The board would not have invited him on as a member if they didn’t feel he shared the same ideals.

If he does takeover we won’t see cash splurges on players but he will certainly turn a nice profit as the debt decreases. Although we are re-negotiating the highbury square loan for an extension as its currently all due by april 2010 at present

By: Wengerball

Wengerball — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:39:37 +0000

The journo in question is Sean Wheelock a well respected football correspondent and knowledgeable on all football matters in the CONCACAF region.

I agree with SKAgooner, especially the 30% part.

BTW at 30% Kroenke has to make an offer to buy the remaining shares. That’s it he just has to “offer” he will need 50% plus 1 share of the remaining to vote yes to his offer.

By: TheSKAGooner

TheSKAGooner — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:55:21 +0000

I think it’s tough to make too many judgments as yet (unfortunately).

Regarding the interview…In part, if the person being interviewed was an American journo, we also have our fair share of biased reporting here as well (and may have an anti-Kroenke bias), so that must be taken into account. If the person being interviewed was a British journo, then yes, we must also consider any support that might exist for the Usmanov/Dein faction.

While it’s true that Stan Kroenke is not Jerry Jones (owner of the Dallas Cowboys NFL team here in the US), someone who throws money at championships, I would also say that some of Kroenke’s teams have had success…especially the Colorado Avalanche (although the St Louis Rams are absolutely dreadful, but that’s not really Kroenke’s fault). Kroenke does not run teams into the ground simply for the sake of profit or titles. Not that he doesn’t make a profit, but he appears to want WINNING teams as well, and is not one to throw money at championships. Kroenke is not going to put his $3bln into the club, but I seriously doubt he would put the club into debt just to buy it (as in the case of United and Liverpool). Arsenal are making a healthy profit and that will only rise as the debt on the stadium and Highbury gets paid down. Arsenal are a successful football club that will challenge for both domestic and European titles almost every year. Stan Kroenke could have success AND profit, were he to take over, simply by allowing things to continue as they are.

One point of note regarding any takeover chances is the likelihood that the other large shareholders needed to sell to Kroenke may not do so even if he reaches the 30% threshold. It would appear from comments from both Ivan Gazidis and PHW that ongoing custodianship is the preferred Arsenal method of operation and not one superior owner. There are a number of scenarios whereby Kroenke could reach 30% and not wind up “owning” Arsenal. Also, the AST has made it VERY clear that custodianship is crucial to Arsenal continuing with the values that make The Arsenal great. I do not expect these feelings to be dismissed easily by anyone.

My take on this at the moment is that Arsene does not seem overly concerned about Kroenke possibly taking over. It would appear that Arsene has some confidence that, should a takeover occur, he would be permitted to continue with his management style and practice of developing talent within the club.

Given all this, if Arsene is not worried…I am not going to worry.