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Holding Arsenal to account

An explanation of how and when

8 April, 2011 10:00 14 comments
Holding Arsenal to account

Ivan Gazidis: Sticking his head above the parapet at season’s end

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This week has seen non-stop coverage of the views of Arsenal fans and comments on what supporters should do to make their views heard at the club.

What follows is an explanation of the part the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust (of which I am a board member) plays in this process and how it will approach the following weeks.

The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust (AST) was formed to increase supporters influence in how Arsenal is run. We regularly represent the views of our members to the Arsenal Board and chief executive Ivan Gazidis.

In recent years issues we have been an influential voice on many issues such as calling for an improved commercial strategy including an overseas tour and the need for the club to field strong teams in all of the cup competitions.

There is of course considerable disappointment amongst all Arsenal fans at recent results in the cup competitions and the long period Arsenal has gone without winning a trophy.

The AST continually holds the club to account and have formal structures in place for reviewing the progress made every season. In the coming weeks we will undertake this work as we do every year which includes holding consultative meetings and conducting a membership survey.

Our view is that the right time to formally comment on the season’s performance is at the end of the season. To date we have seen another rollercoaster season with the good, the bad and the ugly. The right time to fully reflect is when the season is complete and we can fully judge its outcome in light of all facts.

We will begin to collate supporters’ views at our AGM on Monday night and we are currently compiling this year’s membership survey. When we have gathered the views of all of our members we will present them directly to the Board and meet with Ivan Gazidis for more detailed discussion and feedback.

We will also hold our annual end of season Q&A with Ivan Gazidis which allows all supporters to put their views directly to the Chief Executive.

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For more information please visit the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust website, and you can follow AST spokesperson Tim Payton on twitter@timpayton

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14
comments

  1. Bergy

    Apr 09, 2011, 15:41 #4859

    Effing Hill-Wood just called AST "bunch of silly people" and threaten to be "less friendly in the future". Not only do they patronise us on success and ambition, now they do not even respect the fans existance, nevermind our intelligence. Maybe we should let our feet do the talking, maybe then they realise the club is nothing without its fans.

  2. Goofygum

    Apr 09, 2011, 3:32 #4833

    It is clear from some posts that the fans r frustrated. Obviously for the lack of trophies. But I think it's people gone mad. In calm refelection, from previous stadium capacity, the move to a new stadium, the money other perm clubs have, arsenal have no right to b where they r. Arsenal r amongst the eu top 10 clubs. Top 4 in prem yr on yr. What do people want? A miracle? That is what arsenal r! wenger is not far off having built the best team in the world. He loves football & is proud in his love for the game & how it should b played. It has earned him and the club fans across the world. others are spending millions in the League. Wenger has earnt it & spoilt some fans. The fans who want to buy success do not have an understanding of the game.

  3. TK

    Apr 08, 2011, 21:51 #4830

    If this is the case, only solution is to stop going to games.....a change has to be made at arsenal, whether it is replacing wenger or wenger changing his philosophy. Why do we have to pay over the odds for season tickets, when our club doesnt pay over the odds for players that we need?!?

  4. Theopants Bikini-Line

    Apr 08, 2011, 19:08 #4826

    Look at what Wenger has come out with today and ask yourselves whether this sounds like a man to take the club forward? If people like the AST can't or won't ask questions of the powers that be about our lack of ambition, then who can? Also, when are the clubs investors (two of whom are billionaires) actually going to invest in the business, as opposed to buying the shares and waiting for the huge profit when they eventually sell?

  5. Paul N

    Apr 08, 2011, 15:32 #4823

    Can AST try to get the supporters to cheer the team on a little more. Maybe, this would help the team. Anything else is unimportant right now even if it has good intentions. We need to be rallying behind the team. Every team has has a roller coaster season however, only 1 find themselves about us in the PL at present. Surely we cannot take the Barcelona match which was snatched away from us by a crooked ref into account but in a sense that it knocked a lot out of the team but they cannot be blamed (apart from a Cesc backheel).

  6. Bla bla

    Apr 08, 2011, 15:20 #4822

    Oh sorry Jimmy. Here I was, foolishly thinking that shareholders cared about increased share price! Doh! My bad...point is lad, you're part of the problem and the AST is a farcical, spineless group of polyglots. You profess to care about the club? Really? Well why is Wenger being allowed to take the piss! Why on earth have the AST not told the board of the MASSIVE dissatisfied felt by a huge number of fans? Answer? Because like that incompetent fool Wenger, and like that gutless board, you're in it for the money!!! Say whatever you like, no one invests on an emotional basis, what a load of tripe. AST = pointless talking shop

  7. Francis

    Apr 08, 2011, 14:50 #4821

    wenger has to go if v dont win anything this season a coach requires mainly 3 qualities 1.teaching how to defend-u can score with ur hand shin any part of ur body but u cant defend like that hav to hav a basic system for the defenders but he emphasis is on attack (wrong)2.preparing d team b4 a match-arsenal is never ready 4 a match if d oppo is ready to roll over v score 5-6 goals if they fight v cant score 3.inpiring a team when their morale is down-every season from 2006 when d legends left (young) players were down (in d end) he could never inspire them except 4 1 season 2008-09 (no pressure).so he needs to go

  8. Alex

    Apr 08, 2011, 14:49 #4820

    I would pay the price of a single share - 10,000 pounds if we can get the colossal prick Danish Gooner from supporting my club.

  9. Danish gooner

    Apr 08, 2011, 14:23 #4819

    Someone must be held accountable for this rabble that is a certainty.Another,we will do it next season simpl,y isnt an option,measures must be taken and must roll either at executive level,certainly in the playing staff and undoubtedly at manegement level.Us fans will not stand for another year of complete surrender,lack of determination,lack of pride and a horrible inept dispaly from the manager.

  10. 42 loyal years

    Apr 08, 2011, 14:04 #4818

    The questions to ask IG are simply. what is his barometer of success? Has this group of players a collective loosing mentality. Is Aw too stubborn in his principles and belief in some clearly not good enough players? Who questions AW inside the hierarchy. Has AW too much power within the club hierarchy?

  11. Jimmy

    Apr 08, 2011, 13:44 #4816

    @ Bla Bla - I thought that was your name, not the nonsense you write. Do you really think AST members are only interested in the share price? Perhaps you should come along to the meeting on Monday and ask the question yourself. I don't think you know me and therefore you have no idea why I've been prepared to invest £8000 into buying one single share about 2-3 years ago. Yes, I could sell it for a profit, but you know what? I won't, because I love the fact that I own a (very very very) small part of our club. So Bla Bla, if you can't say something sensible, I suggest you keep your thoughts to yourself to save you looking completely stupid.

  12. Bla bla

    Apr 08, 2011, 13:34 #4815

    The AST is a glorified Talking Shop. The less Wenger spends, the higher the cash reserves, the better it is for your shares! AST don't give a toss about Arsenal success on the pitch, so long as that cash looks good. You're no better than Wenger or that puppet Gazidis, or else SERIOUS questions would be asked over the manager's future, the lack of class players, lack of trophies and the constant rewarding of awful players.

  13. Andy

    Apr 08, 2011, 11:44 #4810

    The AST should ask Gazidis 5 questions 1.How can the club justify the huge ticket prices with regard to the lack of success on the pitch? 2.What has Wenger got to do to get sacked? 3.Is the board just happy with a top 4 finish every season without trophies? 4.Why are the club rewarding average players massive long term contracts? 5.Is Arsenal a business or a football club? And keep asking them until he gives straight answers

  14. Ayodeji ajibola

    Apr 08, 2011, 10:59 #4807

    We need to offload some players like denilson rosicky diaby bendtner and replace them with solid players.