Onlinegooner has learned that the Arsenal Supporters Trust played a key role in the events that have led to the issuing of a Red & White Holdings statement today. It announces that Alisher Usmanov’s company will not be making a takeover bid for a further six months.

Through their existing relationship with R&W chairman and former Arsenal director David Dein, the Trust were able to convince R&W that such a statement would be in the best interests of the club as they compete for two trophies in the remaining weeks of this season.

More critically, the value of persuading R&W to make the statement is that if they are not prepared to confirm their position after a further six months, then fans can prepare for a boardroom battle over the future of Arsenal.

Red & White’s statement reads…

Red & White is pleased to confirm its previous statement that it has no current intention to make an offer for Arsenal Holdings Plc (“Arsenal”) and is committing to this position for a further six months.

Red & White has the necessary funding to increase its stake further. However, it confirms that it will not acquire a shareholding in Arsenal which would trigger an obligation to make an offer for the shares in Arsenal.

As the largest shareholder in Arsenal, Red & White is delighted with the excellent results of the Club on the field and would encourage all parties to focus on a trophy winning conclusion to the domestic and European campaigns.

In response, Tim Payton of the Arsenal Supporters Trust has issued the following statement –

The AST is pleased that Red and White has responded to our calls for them to formally renew their statement that they won’t make a bid for Arsenal. The AST remains opposed to a hostile takeover. Last week’s financial results show the club is in very good health. The challenge for the weeks ahead is to give total support and concentration to Arsene’s team. This would not have been easy with takeover speculation mounting. The AST will continue to engage with all major shareholders and calls upon them to work in the best interests of the club.

For information about how to become a member of the AST, the supporters’ movement concerned with the ownership of Arsenal click here