"April 12 - The influential Arsenal Supporters' Trust (AST) has issued a statement insisting that it wants to remain a part of the club's ownership structure and will not be selling shares acquired through the Arsenal fanshare scheme to American Stan Kroenke, who mounted a takeover of the club this week. The fanshare scheme has 1,800 members, who have collectively invested £500,000($815,000) in club shares amounting to a three percent equity stake".
AST statement - Arsenal fans do not want to sell their sharesPosted on: 11/04/11
More than 100 members of the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust (AST) met in central London last night to discus the proposed takeover of Arsenal Holdings PLC by Kroenke Sports Enterprises (KSE).
The members present voted unanimously that the AST continues its campaign for supporters to remain involved in Arsenal’s ownership structure.
The AST said:
"Arsenal is too important to be owned by any one person. The AST wants to work with Stan Kroenke to keep Arsenal supporters involved in the club’s ownership structure.
“The AST and the Arsenal Fanshare scheme will not be selling the shares its owns and urges all supporters to reject this offer.
“In just six months the Arsenal Fanshare scheme has gained 1800 members who have invested £500,000 in Arsenal shares. This scheme has been widely praised across the football community and is supported by the Government who are currently reviewing football’s governance structures.
Arsenal Holdings plc
Mid Price
1165000.0
1165000.0
A PLUS-quoted
company [Marker: BM]
company [Marker: BM]
| Symbol | Ccy Code | Bid | Offer | Mid | Volume | Last Traded | 52Wk Low | 52Wk High |
| AFC | GBX | 1,165,000.00 | 11/04/2011 | 955,000.00 | 1,165,000.00 |
OverviewArsenal Holdings plc is the holding company of the Arsenal Group of companies. The Group operates a professional football club, Arsenal Football Club, and carries out the property development activity associated with its Emirates Stadium project. Emirates Stadium has a 60,000 capacity and opened in July 2006. Arsenal's domestic honours include 13 League Championships, and 10 FA Cups, including 3 League and FA Cup 'doubles'.  url: www.arsenal.com ChartingPeriod: Trades
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Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt has urged Stan Kroenke to keep Arsenal fans involved...
Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, said the government wants long-term owners who regard clubs as community vehicles. Photograph: Kerim Okten/EPA
The culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has urged Arsenal's prospective new owner to retain and strengthen fans' involvement in the club's ownership structure.
Stan Kroenke, the American sports and real estate mogul who has launched a £731m takeover bid, has encouraged the activities of the Arsenal Supporters' Trust's Fanshare scheme. Hunt urged him to continue to do so if he takes full ownership.
"I have heard very positive noises that he is very supportive of fan involvement," said Hunt.
"I have no problem at all with foreign ownership. I think we have the best Premier League in the world partly because there have been some very rich foreigners prepared to invest in making it the best in the world. What matters is not the nationality of the person investing but the intentions of the person investing."
The culture, media, sport and Olympics secretary said it could be hard to gauge accurately the intentions of prospective owners but it was important that those who bought football clubs recognised they were "community assets and not just financial tools" and that the owners were "there for the long term".
"It's very, very hard with the fit and proper persons' test to actually gauge what someone is going to do with a club. You get people with fantastic-looking CVs who don't do a brilliant job with the club they take over and people with not such brilliant CVs who turn out to be fantastic long-term owners," said Hunt.
"What we don't want are investors who indulge in financial engineering and see it as a financial vehicle but [investors who] see it as a community vehicle and want to be with the club for the long term," he said.
The government has promised to act to strengthen provisions for fan ownership and involvement in clubs at all levels of the game following an ongoing parliamentary review of football governance.
Before last year's election, at the height of the green and gold protests about Malcolm Glazer's ownership of Manchester United and concerns about Liverpool and Portsmouth, all political parties promised to make it easier for fans to take a stake in their clubs.
The Arsenal Fanshare model, under which supporters can band together to own a stake collectively and hold the club to account, has been praised by MPs as one potential model.
The Premier League has strengthened its rules over the past two seasons in an effort to improve transparency of ownership and reduce the chances of clubs plunging into self-induced financial crises, like Portsmouth or Liverpool.
Hunt was talking at the launch of a scheme by the London 2012 sponsor Sainsbury's to involve 1m schoolchildren in Paralympic sport before the Games and to set up a legacy fund to support Paralympic athletes.
Stan Kroenke, the American sports and real estate mogul who has launched a £731m takeover bid, has encouraged the activities of the Arsenal Supporters' Trust's Fanshare scheme. Hunt urged him to continue to do so if he takes full ownership.
"I have heard very positive noises that he is very supportive of fan involvement," said Hunt.
"I have no problem at all with foreign ownership. I think we have the best Premier League in the world partly because there have been some very rich foreigners prepared to invest in making it the best in the world. What matters is not the nationality of the person investing but the intentions of the person investing."
The culture, media, sport and Olympics secretary said it could be hard to gauge accurately the intentions of prospective owners but it was important that those who bought football clubs recognised they were "community assets and not just financial tools" and that the owners were "there for the long term".
"It's very, very hard with the fit and proper persons' test to actually gauge what someone is going to do with a club. You get people with fantastic-looking CVs who don't do a brilliant job with the club they take over and people with not such brilliant CVs who turn out to be fantastic long-term owners," said Hunt.
"What we don't want are investors who indulge in financial engineering and see it as a financial vehicle but [investors who] see it as a community vehicle and want to be with the club for the long term," he said.
The government has promised to act to strengthen provisions for fan ownership and involvement in clubs at all levels of the game following an ongoing parliamentary review of football governance.
Before last year's election, at the height of the green and gold protests about Malcolm Glazer's ownership of Manchester United and concerns about Liverpool and Portsmouth, all political parties promised to make it easier for fans to take a stake in their clubs.
The Arsenal Fanshare model, under which supporters can band together to own a stake collectively and hold the club to account, has been praised by MPs as one potential model.
The Premier League has strengthened its rules over the past two seasons in an effort to improve transparency of ownership and reduce the chances of clubs plunging into self-induced financial crises, like Portsmouth or Liverpool.
Hunt was talking at the launch of a scheme by the London 2012 sponsor Sainsbury's to involve 1m schoolchildren in Paralympic sport before the Games and to set up a legacy fund to support Paralympic athletes.
“The Arsenal Board supported Arsenal Fanshare and Stan Kroenke was a member of the Board at the time. Stan Kroenke has also previously told the AST that he sees supporter shareholders making an important contribution to the club and that the AST provides ‘ independent perspective to the shareholders, board and management’.
“The AST spoke to Ivan Gazidis on Monday 11 April and he reiterated the importance he places upon fans involvement in the club and stated his commitment to custodianship.
“The AST is encouraged that Kroenke's offer states that he does not intend to 'de-list' Arsenal from the PLUS markets. In the next few days we will seek further confirmation of his plans in this area and would like to see more detail on this subject in the formal KSE offer document.
"AST is encouraged to hear Red & White plan to keep their shares. They have previously stated their long-term commitment to the club and this decision would be a good demonstration of that".
I would like to take this opportunity to send my condolences to the Late Danny Fiszman's family, may he 'Fly Forever in Heaven with the Angels'.
Here is an interview that Danny gave to Arsenalcom when he sold some of his shares to Stan Kroenke...It explains something quite important...Those shares were a "One-Off" he had no intentions of selling anymore to Stan Kroeke or anyone else!
Arsenal.com: Danny, it has just been announced by the Club that you have sold a significant number of your shares to Stan Kroenke. Why have you decided to do this?
Danny Fiszman: I strongly believe that Stan Kroenke has an important role to play in the future of Arsenal Football Club. He has already brought considerable knowledge and experience to the Board, and I have no doubt that he will continue to be an asset to the Club. While I thought long and hard about selling any shares, I believe that Stan’s increased holding is a positive development for Arsenal Football Club.
Arsenal.com: Have you sold your shares as a result of the current financial situation. Are you feeling the effects of the credit crunch?
Danny Fiszman: Luckily I have not been greatly affected by the credit crunch. As I mentioned, I believe that Stan’s increased holding is a positive development for the Club.
Arsenal.com: You have stated in previous interviews that you have no intentions of selling your shares in the Club. However, is this sale to Stan Kroenke an indication that you have changed your views and you are going to sell-out completely?
Danny Fiszman: I have no current intention to sell any more of my shares in the Club. This sale to Stan was a one-off sale. I certainly intend to continue as a long-term substantial shareholder.
Arsenal.com: By selling this number of shares, do you think this will have a destabilising influence on the Club's position by selling outside of the agreed lockdown agreement?
Danny Fiszman: Every member of the lockdown agreement has given their blessing for this sale to proceed.
Arsenal.com: To some, it may look like you are losing interest in Arsenal Football Club, now that the Emirates Stadium project has been successfully completed. Is this the case?
Danny Fiszman: That certainly is not the case. Above all, I'm a passionate Arsenal supporter and have been all my life. I attend the majority of our home and away matches and my love for the Club has always been and will continue to be a matter of the heart. I am present at all Board meetings and very much enjoy my involvement in the Club.
During the planning and construction of Emirates Stadium, I devoted a significant amount of time to the Club and am extremely proud of our achievements in producing a world-class stadium on time and within budget. Although the stadium has now been successfully completed, a great deal of my time is still devoted to the Club and that's how I intend to continue for the foreseeable future.
Arsenal.com: Going back to the reason for selling your shares, do you feel that Arsenal is going to be significantly impacted by the credit crunch and this is the reason that you are selling your shares now to pre-empt the price plummeting?
Danny Fiszman: No, not at all. Although the current economic environment is proving difficult for many organisations, the Club still managed to report healthy half-year financial figures in February. We have a sound, successful business model. We have long-term sponsorships, an improved TV deal and a healthy demand for tickets.
Arsenal.com: Will this affect the running of the Club?
Danny Fiszman: The day-to-day running of Arsenal Football Club will not change whatsoever as a result of this sale of shares to Stan Kroenke.
Arsenal.com: Do you have a reassuring message for the fans?
Danny Fiszman: I would like to stress that I will remain a long-term major shareholder in the Club and I am retaining the majority of my investment. I am totally committed as a fan, director and shareholder to Arsenal and I believe that Stan Kroenke's greater involvement will be in the best interests of everyone involved in the Club.
These are exciting times at Arsenal. We have a great young squad, a fantastic manager and a world-class stadium. More specifically, this season is coming to an exciting finish, and it's great that we are challenging for silverware in the Champions League and FA Cup. We have put in some fantastic performances of late and I hope we can continue that into the closing stages of the season. As a Board, we are fully supportive of the football philosophy Arsène has created and nurtured. We are totally convinced that this young squad - that plays exciting, creative football - will bring us continued success in the future.
I am proud to have such an active role in Arsenal Football Club and I intend that to be the case for a long time to come.
To Danny Rest in Peace from a KiwiMaoriGirl from New Zealand.
I would like to take this opportunity to send my condolences to the Late Danny Fiszman's family, may he 'Fly Forever in Heaven with the Angels'.
Here is an interview that Danny gave to Arsenalcom when he sold some of his shares to Stan Kroenke...It explains something quite important...Those shares were a "One-Off" he had no intentions of selling anymore to Stan Kroeke or anyone else!
Danny Fiszman
Arsenal.com Q&A with Danny Fiszman
Following the sale of 5,000 of his shares to Stan Kroenke, Arsenal Director Danny Fiszman has given the following interview to Arsenal.com:Arsenal.com: Danny, it has just been announced by the Club that you have sold a significant number of your shares to Stan Kroenke. Why have you decided to do this?
Danny Fiszman: I strongly believe that Stan Kroenke has an important role to play in the future of Arsenal Football Club. He has already brought considerable knowledge and experience to the Board, and I have no doubt that he will continue to be an asset to the Club. While I thought long and hard about selling any shares, I believe that Stan’s increased holding is a positive development for Arsenal Football Club.
Arsenal.com: Have you sold your shares as a result of the current financial situation. Are you feeling the effects of the credit crunch?
Danny Fiszman: Luckily I have not been greatly affected by the credit crunch. As I mentioned, I believe that Stan’s increased holding is a positive development for the Club.
Arsenal.com: You have stated in previous interviews that you have no intentions of selling your shares in the Club. However, is this sale to Stan Kroenke an indication that you have changed your views and you are going to sell-out completely?
Danny Fiszman: I have no current intention to sell any more of my shares in the Club. This sale to Stan was a one-off sale. I certainly intend to continue as a long-term substantial shareholder.
Arsenal.com: By selling this number of shares, do you think this will have a destabilising influence on the Club's position by selling outside of the agreed lockdown agreement?
Danny Fiszman: Every member of the lockdown agreement has given their blessing for this sale to proceed.
Arsenal.com: To some, it may look like you are losing interest in Arsenal Football Club, now that the Emirates Stadium project has been successfully completed. Is this the case?
Danny Fiszman: That certainly is not the case. Above all, I'm a passionate Arsenal supporter and have been all my life. I attend the majority of our home and away matches and my love for the Club has always been and will continue to be a matter of the heart. I am present at all Board meetings and very much enjoy my involvement in the Club.
During the planning and construction of Emirates Stadium, I devoted a significant amount of time to the Club and am extremely proud of our achievements in producing a world-class stadium on time and within budget. Although the stadium has now been successfully completed, a great deal of my time is still devoted to the Club and that's how I intend to continue for the foreseeable future.
Arsenal.com: Going back to the reason for selling your shares, do you feel that Arsenal is going to be significantly impacted by the credit crunch and this is the reason that you are selling your shares now to pre-empt the price plummeting?
Danny Fiszman: No, not at all. Although the current economic environment is proving difficult for many organisations, the Club still managed to report healthy half-year financial figures in February. We have a sound, successful business model. We have long-term sponsorships, an improved TV deal and a healthy demand for tickets.
Arsenal.com: Will this affect the running of the Club?
Danny Fiszman: The day-to-day running of Arsenal Football Club will not change whatsoever as a result of this sale of shares to Stan Kroenke.
Arsenal.com: Do you have a reassuring message for the fans?
Danny Fiszman: I would like to stress that I will remain a long-term major shareholder in the Club and I am retaining the majority of my investment. I am totally committed as a fan, director and shareholder to Arsenal and I believe that Stan Kroenke's greater involvement will be in the best interests of everyone involved in the Club.
These are exciting times at Arsenal. We have a great young squad, a fantastic manager and a world-class stadium. More specifically, this season is coming to an exciting finish, and it's great that we are challenging for silverware in the Champions League and FA Cup. We have put in some fantastic performances of late and I hope we can continue that into the closing stages of the season. As a Board, we are fully supportive of the football philosophy Arsène has created and nurtured. We are totally convinced that this young squad - that plays exciting, creative football - will bring us continued success in the future.
I am proud to have such an active role in Arsenal Football Club and I intend that to be the case for a long time to come.
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