Dr Robert
Stan Kroenke has indicated he has no intention of selling his stakeholding in Arsenal. This is bad news. His style of ownership – where the winning of trophies is not a priority – is in stark contrast the ethos of more successful clubs, who try and use every last resource and are constantly examining their methods.
This is not simply related to his lack of feeling for the sport, his various teams in the States have a reputation for mediocrity.
I don’t know how things are going to pan out at the cup final tomorrow. I asked my son if he would be interested in a spare ticket if one came up on the morning of the game, as sometimes happens. He said no, because he is convinced Arsenal will lose. This lack of faith in the team is a reflection of what a let down this season has been, in spite of reaching the cup final. This, under Kroenke’s direction (or abdication of any real requirement to improve things) is the direction the club is heading in. More Wenger next season, but minus Alexis Sanchez in spite of the manager’s proclamations that the Chilean is under contract. The club badly needs to rebuild and the longer Kroenke is around, the more likely that isn’t going to happen.
So here’s a suggestion. The ‘Stan Kroenke, Get out of our club!’ chants at the Everton game last weekend were sung loud and with gusto. I think everyone that joined in (and there were a few tourists bemused by it, but the vast majority of those that did attend sang up) enjoyed the release and the opportunity to make their feelings known. Only Kroenke wasn’t there.
He will be in the Royal Box tomorrow, and fans should be aware that a similar show of unhappiness with his ownership style will have a huge impact. I can imagine it could start in response to Chelsea fans chanting ‘Arsene Wenger We Want You To Stay’ or if the game goes badly and recovery seems beyond Arsenal’s reach. Perhaps, sung long and loud enough, it may persuade him to sell up and get out of the club with a profit, which means a lot more to him than sporting success. Then he can go and do whatever he wants to spend his money. I am sure there is no end of goods he can find to keep him satiated on Coupons Monk for example, assuming he is not in the market for a fresh sports team he can turn into underachievers. Such a vocal protest should certainly make waves in the media back in the States, where Kroenke will be more unhappy about such poor PR.
Security will be understandably tight at Wembley tomorrow, but you should have no trouble getting an A4 piece of paper in. Here’s one you may care to print out. In fact, why not do a few and hand them to your neighbours. They’d look just the job on TV. There won’t be too many opportunities to let the owner know the strength of fan feeling about his modus operandi. I suggest this may be too good a chance to miss…
