[Warchant]

Sources in London tonight have indicated that American businessman Stan Kroenke will launch a formal takeover bid for Premiership club London Arsenal after a two week stint in which the owner of the Colorado Rapids has quietly acquired 11.26% of the club in two transactions.

The BBC and the Guardian of Manchester are also speculating this evening that a bid from Kreonke is imminent.

The proposed takeover would not be a friendly one. Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood was quoted today in several British papers as saying that he and the major shareholders in the club had "no intention of selling to some stranger," and were strongly opposed to the club being sold into American hands.

Kroenke is the latest North American businessman to invest in the Premier League.

Liverpool was recently purchased by George Gillett with Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks. Aston Villa was snapped up by Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner and Manchester United was taken private by Malcolm Glazer, owner of the Tampa Bay Bucaneers.

The Colorado-based Kroenke Sports Enterprises purchased 9.9% of the shares from former holders television company ITV, and added another 721 shares of the football team, including 659 shares formerly owned by Arsenal's single largest shareholder, Danny Fiszman.

Arsenal, which debuted its new $780 million Emirates Stadium this season, is currently in fourth place in the Premier League but is struggling under a $520 million debt load associated with stadium costs.

Officials at the MLS Colorado Rapids were not allowed to speak to the media about the transaction. KSE vice-president Paul Andrews said, "We've always said that with regards to speculation, we don't speculate in relation to our holdings or any future moves."

 
Sources in London tonight have indicated that American businessman Stan Kroenke will launch a formal takeover bid for Premiership club London Arsenal after a two week stint in which the owner of the Colorado Rapids has quietly acquired 11.26% of the club in two transactions.

The BBC and the Guardian of Manchester are also speculating this evening that a bid from Kreonke is imminent.

The proposed takeover would not be a friendly one. Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood was quoted today in several British papers as saying that he and the major shareholders in the club had "no intention of selling to some stranger," and were strongly opposed to the club being sold into American hands.

Kroenke is the latest North American businessman to invest in the Premier League.

Liverpool was recently purchased by George Gillett with Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks. Aston Villa was snapped up by Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner and Manchester United was taken private by Malcolm Glazer, owner of the Tampa Bay Bucaneers.

The Colorado-based Kroenke Sports Enterprises purchased 9.9% of the shares from former holders television company ITV, and added another 721 shares of the football team, including 659 shares formerly owned by Arsenal's single largest shareholder, Danny Fiszman.

Arsenal, which debuted its new $780 million Emirates Stadium this season, is currently in fourth place in the Premier League but is struggling under a $520 million debt load associated with stadium costs.

Officials at the MLS Colorado Rapids were not allowed to speak to the media about the transaction. KSE vice-president Paul Andrews said, "We've always said that with regards to speculation, we don't speculate in relation to our holdings or any future moves."

Photo Gallery...
Foreign Ownership in EPL


Kroenke Sports Enterprises, which owns Denver's Pepsi Center, as well as the NHL Avalanche and NBA Nuggets, recently signed a marketing agreement with the London club. At the time, sources close to the Rapids indicated the MLS club would also change its name to "Colorado Arsenal," but that move was apparently put on hold after feedback from the London side.

Adding to the intrigue today in London, Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, suddenly resigned from his post at the club. Dein, who owns some 14.5% of the club, is also the head of the powerful G-14 lobbying bloc of European soccer clubs, and was reportedly in favor of selling to Kroenke.

Asked about Dein's departure, Andrews said that it would be "inappropriate to comment" at this time.

[Portman]

(IMG:http://www.antique-wine.com/images/Stanley-Kroenke_200.jpg)

Stanley Kroenke... I'm hearing that name since last November/December @Arsenal. It's a possibility.

[agenth]

Dein is leaving... it's (almost) official, isnt it?

[misha]

Arsenal want a sugar daddy too (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Locke Lamora]

Arsenal don't need a sugar daddy.
Both Wenger and the clubs directors are strongly opposed to the idea and have set the price so high it will make Arsenal the worlds richest club by far.
As long as Wenger is still manager, that means no spending vast sums on "super players", instead continuing to drag unknown players out of obscurity and turning them into semi-stars.

Its an investment, not a takeover.

At least I hope so... (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[Warchant]

Stanley Kroenke is one of the heirs to the Walmart fortune (he married into it)...so money is not going to be an issue for this guy

[misha]

His ia worth about $2.1 billion.

[kurtsimonw]

I hope Arsenal don't end up with a huge takeover of some sorts.

If they stay the way they are, they'll continue disappointing their fans with average seasons of fending off 4th place, which isn't what the fans want. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Locke Lamora]

What the fans don't want is Arsenal to join Man U, Chelsea and L'Pool in their takeover by corpulent billionaires who have no insight, only money.

I don't want Arsenal to become a "millionaire" club.
As long as they give results like 6-2 and 6-3 to live on, I'm happy.

[kurtsimonw]

What the fans don't want is Arsenal to join Man U, Chelsea and L'Pool in their takeover by corpulent billionaires who have no insight, only money.

I don't want Arsenal to become a "millionaire" club.
As long as they give results like 6-2 and 6-3 to live on, I'm happy.

I don't think Arsenal fans want to become like that, but I don't think they'd care if it put them up there with those three.

If they don't do something next season (Not just fighting for fourth place.) the fans will turn on Wenger, they're sick of being not so much mediocre, but not good enough to challenge. They're closer to the level of Spurs and Everton than they are Man United and Chelsea. We've a better chance of making the CL next year, than they do winning the title.

[Milan Are Brilli...]

Another millionaire this league should just be sorted by which owner owns the most money it would be far more interesting (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Portman]

His ia worth about $2.1 billion.

-Silvio has $12B. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
-Agnelli/Elkann $2.3B.

-Moratti family » ? (Anyone...?)


In the Premier League:

-Manchester United = Malcolm Glazer $1.3B.
-Liverpool = $2B from G.Gillett + $5B from Tom Hicks.
-Aston Villa = $7.6B Randy Lerner
-Chelsea = Roman Abramovich $18.7B (probably half since... his divorce)
...

And the list will continue to grow. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[kurtsimonw]

Another millionaire this league should just be sorted by which owner owns the most money it would be far more interesting  (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

All this money is killing the sport.

Unless they introduce a minimum home-based players in the starting line-up thing. This wouldn't stop so much spending, but at least it'd make sure teams are winning titles with players of that nationality.

Either that or football needs an American stype 'Salary Cap'. It works well, with not having all the best players on one team. If players want to stay with big clubs they have to show loyalty and take a pay cut.

Can everybody see Ballack, Drogba, Lampard, Terry, Essien and Sheva taking huge cuts? I don't think so.

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Apr 19 2007, 07:42 PM

[Milan Are Brilli...]

All this money is killing the sport.

Unless they introduce a minimum home-based players in the starting line-up thing. This wouldn't stop so much spending, but at least it'd make sure teams are winning titles with players of that nationality.

Well the English national team is just going to get worse after Gerrard, Owen, Lampard era there really seems to be no one, maybe Lennon but that's about it. Before anyone says Walcott he looks nothing yet, he has loads to prove.

[kurtsimonw]

Well the English national team is just going to get worse after Gerrard, Owen, Lampard era there really seems to be no one, maybe Lennon but that's about it. Before anyone says Walcott he looks nothing yet, he has loads to prove.

I agree with Theo, I can't see him ever being great, but he's at the right club to develop. Arsenal do a great job with youngsters.

Lennon looks a great prospect already and will definetly be an England regular for years to come. Micah Richards at Man City and David Bentley at Blackburn also look like they will be regulars in the coming years.

Villa have a few young players that could eventually break into the England first team.

Ashley Young, 21 (ST)
Gabriel Agbonlahor, 20 (ST)
Luke Moore, 21 (ST)
Gary Cahill, 21 (DF)
Liam Ridgewell, 22 (DF)

They've all been England-U21 regulars in recent years and have shown alot of promise in our first team over the last 2 seasons.

Craig Gardner, 20 (MF) Has also done a great job when he's been given the chance this season.

But as they don't play for Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal or Liverpool they'll never get their chance, as usual. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Apr 19 2007, 07:55 PM