Kroenke and Arsenal - Uh Oh, Spaghettios!

By: Clint | April 18th, 2007

It appears the all-ighty-ollar (hint: Mad magazine fold up) is breaking up the Arsenal family:

David Dein, one of the most powerful figures in English football, has quit as vice-chairman of Premier League club Arsenal because of “irreconcilable differences” with board colleagues, Arsenal said on Wednesday.

Arsenal said in the same statement they were not about to agree to sell the club, in which American businessman Stan Kroenke recently bought an 11 percent share.

Dein, who joined the Arsenal board in 1983, owns 14.5 percent of the club’s shares.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said in an interview before the announcement of Dein’s departure that he and three of the club’s major shareholders had “no intention of selling to some stranger”.

“We’re here for Arsenal Football Club, not to make a few bob. We would be horrified to see it go across the Atlantic,” he told The Guardian.

The Arsenal statement on the club’s Web site said: “In the light of recent speculation with regards to the ownership of the club, the remaining board members, who together own 45.45 of the issue share capital of the company, would like to reassure the supporters, shareholders and employees of Arsenal Football Club that they remain long-term holders of their interests in the club.

It’s always ugly when American billionaires get involved with anything (other than Jane Fonda). I do feel bad for fans that are afraid that U.S. ownership of a team their family has supported for decades will mean Ronald McDonald will immediately become the team mascot and cheerleaders dressed in nascar-esque sponsors’ decals will flood the stadiums, BUT…

There has been no evidence that having a U.S. owner is any different from having a Russian owner, a Spanish manager, or even, god-forbid, A TEAM MADE UP OF NO ENGLISH PLAYERS. How about this Arsenal board members: When you f’in fire Arsene and jettison the 84% of your team that is foreign (including 99% of the squad that actually plays in first team matches - seriously have you ever heard of Kerrea Gilbert? Mark Randall?????) then you can make your bitch-ass statements and tantrums. Until then, the only time I want you to open your mouth is to brush those nasty teeth you miserable limey bastids!