I must say that as much as I hate to admit it, Usmanov does have a valid point. We know that we don’t have the spending power of Chavski, United and Citeh. But the Board have shown no intention of at least trying to rectify that problem. It’s been quoted that both Usmanov and "Uncle Stan" were ready to offer the boss extra money to spend this summer (Ed’s note – not sure about Kroenke doing this, and the specifics of Usmanov’s offer are unknown.) and also proposed to the Board ways to increase the yearly transfer budget by making more shares available. This way the club is not risking financial meltdown and what do the Board and Gazidis in particular do? Reject it, saying that developing young players and increasing the current playing staff’s wages are the way forward.

That would be good if we were winning trophies for fun each year but we’re not. Gazidis was brought in to bring fresh ideas to the table, instead he’s gone along with what the rest of the old fogeys on the Board want to do, which makes him look like a "yes man". That is why David Dein walked and probably one of the reasons Keith Edelman left. (Ed’s note – both were sacked for different misdemeanours, although what exactly Edelman’s were is shrouded in mystery.) They wanted the best for our club’s long-term future and the Board didn’t. In short, whilst those two men were at the club we were successful, since they left we have been anything but.

Kroenke has just bought more shares in the club taking him up to about 28% so it’s only a matter of time before either billionaire mounts a takeover bid, the Board are just delaying the inevitable. What I still fail to understand is that each year we announce "record profits" and that "the stadium budget is separate from the transfer budget" but it clearly is not. It is said that we make at least £3million each home game, so where does it go? Towards the stadium of course, which means little or no money for signings.

I bet trying to get the £15million paid for Arshavin was like trying to get blood out of a stone. We’ve signed a defender who was part of the worst Ajax defence in the history of the club and we keep losing out on the vital players we need to strengthen our squad. We’ve now lost out on Felipe Melo, Gareth Barry, Xabi Alonso and Yaya Toure, who have turned us down because of the size of their transfer fees and wage demands. The club would rather pay £100,000 plus per week to the likes of Adebayor and Gallas, who don’t give two hoots about the club. We all know there is no such thing as loyalty anymore but you have to move with the times. There’s five weeks till the opening game against Everton, there is major work to be done so I ask the manager and club to stop stalling and get on with it.