Kroenke increased stake in Arsenal
American tycoon Stan Kroenke has increased his stake in Arsenal to just over 20% at a cost of some £42.5million after buying 5,000 ordinary shares from fellow director Danny Fiszman.
SHAREHOLDINGS IN ARSENAL
- PD Hill-Wood (chairman) – 0.8%
- DD Fiszman – 16.1%
- Stan Kroenke – 20.5%
- KJ Friar OBE – 0.07%
- Lord Harris of Peckham – 0.08%
- Sir ‘Chips’ Keswick – 0.06%
- RCL Carr – 4.4%
- Red & White Holdings – 25%
- Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith – 15.9%
Kroenke had accepted the offer to become a non-executive director in September last year as ties with his Kroenke Sports Enterprises group were strengthened.
The remainder of the Arsenal board who were subject to the ‘lockdown agreement’ gave their consent to the transaction, which was set at a price of £8,500 per share.
Fiszman is now left with some 10,025 shares, around 16.1% of the total capital of Arsenal’s parent holding company.
The diamond dealer, however, maintains he has no intentions of off-loading any more of his stake in the Gunners.
“I am pleased that Stan Kroenke has made a further substantial commitment to the club by acquiring approximately a third of my holding,” Fiszman said.
“Stan’s long-term commitment to sport in general and football in particular has been well documented.
“I am therefore delighted that he has shown this desire to deepen his ties with Arsenal.
“I will of course continue to work for Arsenal with the best interests of the club at heart and have no intention of selling any more of my shareholding.”
Kroenke firmly believes the club is heading in the right direction under the current set-up.
“After having been invited to join the board last year I am delighted to be able to increase my shareholding in Arsenal,” he said.
“I will continue to work closely with my board colleagues to maintain the stable environment in which the club operates and to preserve the self-sustaining business model enjoyed by the club.”
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood added: “Stan Kroenke has proved to be a valuable member of the board and I am pleased that he has demonstrated further commitment to the club by adding to his shareholding.
“Danny Fiszman remains a driving influence on the board and is fully committed to the club’s long term future.”
Arsenal’s other overseas investor is Uzbekistan metals magnate Alisher Usmanov – whose Red & White Holdings group bought into Arsenal when he paid former vice-chairman David Dein around £75million for his 14.65% holding.
In February, Red & White increased their stake to 25%. Were that to reached 30%, then, under financial regulations, a formal takeover approach would have to be launched.
Meanwhile, Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith could be ready to listen to offers for some of her 15.9% holding, after she left the Arsenal board in December.
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis maintains it is “business as usual” at the Premier League club.
He said: “On a day-to-day level, it has absolutely no impact at all.
“It is a transaction between two board members, both of whom believe in the self-sustaining philosophy of the club.”
Gazidis added in an interview with Arsenal TV Online: “On the business side, we remain doing business just as we were yesterday.
“I remain focused on the business side, and on the playing side it is the same.
“Arsene Wenger and the players remain focused on the end of this season – we are in three important competitions and making some progress. We are hoping for a good end to the season.”
The Arsenal Supporters Trust hold 3% of shares through their members, but represent a collective of small shareholders who have about 12%.
In a statement, the AST welcomed Kroenke’s further investment and paid tribute to Fiszman.
“The fact that Stan Kroenke is already a member of the board at Arsenal should ensure that this change does not create any instability,” the statement read.
“The AST has met with Stan Kroenke and visited his operations in Colorado. We were supportive of him joining the board and welcome the sporting and commercial expertise he brings to the club.
“If a sale had to take place we are reassured that it is to Stan.”
The statement continued: We admire the work that Danny undertook in creating the Emirates and are pleased that he has said he intends to continue as a significant shareholder and playing a role in the future of Arsenal.
“The AST have asked to meet with Danny Fiszman to discuss with him how he envisages the club moving forward.”
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Word Cup Qualifier – Spain 1 : 0 Turkey
Spain continued their seemingly unstoppable march towards the World Cup finals by edging out Turkey in the battle between the top two teams in Group Five.
Gerard Pique scored the only goal of a closely-fought encounter at the Bernabeu as Spain made it five wins out of five in qualifying, leaving them six points clear of second-placed Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The victory also extended the European champions’ unbeaten run to 30 matches – of which 28 have ended in victory.
However, Vicente del Bosque’s side were slow out of the blocks at the start of the game and can consider themselves fortunate not to have fallen behind early on.
In the sixth minute Turkey captain Nihat Kahveci got in behind the home defence but fired a low shot just wide, before 60 seconds later Senturk brought a diving save out of Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
That was an encouraging start for the visiting side, who had picked up eight points from their first four qualifiers, and Fatih Terim’s troops would go on to edge an opening period in which clear chances were at a premium.
Spain had to wait until the 42nd minute for their first real effort of note, with Fernando Torres testing Demirel Volkan from the edge of the area.
Just seconds prior to that Turkey had created another half-chance when a well-timed run from Arda Turan saw him break through, but his control was too heavy and Casillas was able to rush out and collect.
Spain were finding it hard to build any momentum against a determined and well-organised Turkey side and it was hard to see where a goal was going to come from.
However that changed on the hour mark when the Euro 2008 winners finally managed to break the deadlock through the unlikely figure of centre-back Pique.
Xavi’s free-kick into the area should really have been tucked away by the unmarked Sergio Ramos on the edge of the six-yard box, but the Real Madrid defender seemed surprised to receive possession and could only divert the ball back across the face of goal.
Fortunately for the home side though Pique was free at the far post to side-foot the ball past Volkan, who got his hands to the shot but could not deny the Barcelona youngster his first international goal.
Soon after that breakthrough Del Bosque made his first change, sending on the debutant Juan Mata for his Valencia team-mate David Villa.
The in-form Villa had become the first Spaniard to net in six successive internationals in last month’s win over England, but he was unable to extend that record after being well-marshalled by the Turkish backline.
New boy Mata looked enterprising down the left and that, combined with Pique’s goal, allowed Spain to gradually enjoy more freedom going forward as Turkey left more space at the back.
David Silva went close to doubling the hosts’ lead before Volkan did well to somehow turn away Xabi Alonso’s half-volley.
Spain were unable to find a second goal but their defence had few problems keeping their opponents in check at the other end of the pitch, and Del Bosque’s men will now go to Istanbul for Wednesday’s return meeting against the Turks knowing a good result would leave them on the brink of a place in next year’s finals. – ESPN
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World Cup Qualification – Portugal 0 – 0 Sweden
Portugal face an uphill struggle to reach the World Cup finals after wasting a host of chances in a 0-0 qualifying draw with Sweden on Saturday.
With Group One’s joint leaders Denmark and Hungary posting away wins against Malta and Albania respectively, Portugal now have little room for error and must turn their attacking displays into victories to have any chance of progressing.
Denmark have 10 points from four matches, the same haul as Hungary who have played a game more. Portugal and Sweden are level on six points.
“We’re frustrated after so much effort and a good display. Unfortunately football is not for those who deserve it but for those who win,” said Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz.
“It’s not over though we have to admit we are in a more difficult situation.”
Portugal dominated the first half and came close to scoring in the 17th minute when Tiago almost made the most of a bad back pass to Sweden keeper Andreas Isaksson.
Tiago then supplied Cristiano Ronaldo on the right, only for the winger’s attempt to chip Isaksson to go wide.
Sweden had another escape in the 24th minute when Duda’s cross from the left wing hit the post after deceiving the keeper.
A flowing move on 43 minutes involving Ronaldo, Tiago and Raul Meireles ended with Simao Sabrosa’s volley going just wide and Portugal suffered another blow moments later when defender Jose Bosingwa limped off injured.
Danny continued Portugal’s poor finishing in the second half when he failed to hit the target after an excellent pass from Tiago.
The visitors, missing striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic through suspension, seemed to settle for a draw.
Sweden’s best chance came on 55 minutes when Johan Elmander forced Eduardo Carvalho into a close range save but they rarely threatened.
Playmaker Deco came on as a substitute after 62 minutes and had two good chances to break the deadlock for Portugal when a low drive was saved by Isaksson and a curling shot flew inches wide.
“Portugal played better but we defended very well and you could say we earned the draw,” said Sweden coach Lars Lagerback.
“Of course I am satisfied with a point here. We still have to play two games against Denmark so everything is open in this group.” – Reuters
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World Cup Qualifier – North Korea 2-0 UAE
North Korea moved to the top of Group 2 after beating United Arab Emirates 2-0 in Pyongyang in 2010 World Cup qualifying on Saturday.
Second-half goals from Pak Nam-chol and Mun In-guk sparked euphoric scenes at a packed Kim Il-sung Stadium and pushed the North Koreans two points clear of rivals South Korea and a step closer to their first World Cup since 1966.
The defeat left UAE rooted to the bottom with one point from five games, all but burying their hopes of reaching the finals.
Willed on by an expectant crowd, North Korea dominated the first half but were frustrated by a UAE side that defended well but lacked drive going forward.
The attacks came thick and fast after the half hour mark with Hong Yong-jo and the dangerous Jong Tae-se thwarted by Majed Naser in the UAE goal.
North Korea piled on the pressure and had the best chance of the half on 43 minutes when the diminutive Jong leapt high into the air and forced a superb save from Naser.
In a must-win game for the visitors, UAE looked resigned to an early exit from the campaign and had their only real chance on the stroke of halftime when Hamdan al-Kamali had his free kick comfortably saved by Ri Myong-guk.
North Korea came out fighting after the interval and their tenacity paid off on 51 minutes when Pak received the ball on the edge of the area and unleashed a powerful left foot drive into the top corner.
Mun almost doubled the lead with 11 minutes remaining when his long range shot crashed against the post with Naser beaten.
Mun made sure of the victory three minutes into stoppage time when he connected with Ji Yun-nam’s cross from the left and found the net from six metres.
The win left North Korea on 10 points from five matches. They next face South Korea, who have played a less game and can snatch back their lead with three points in Seoul on Wednesday.
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Japan hopeful to top World Cup qualifying group
Japan have a chance to put a year of stuttering performances behind them by topping their World Cup qualifying group with a win over Bahrain on Saturday, but if history is anything to go by, it will be far from easy.
Their tactically astute opponents have defeated the ‘Blue Samurai’ in two of their last four meetings and could spoil the party for a team with little to celebrate in the qualifying campaign to date.
With leaders Australia not in action until April 1, victory in Saitama will move Japan a point ahead of the Socceroos at the top of Group 1 and give coach Takeshi Okada some much-needed breathing space.
“While all the games are important, this is the one we have to go for,” Okada told Japanese media.
“We’ll take risks where we have to. I’m only thinking about winning the match, nothing else.
“Bahrain are a tough match-up for any team, not just us,” added Okada, whose side have won two and drawn two of their matches in the fourth and final round.
“Their style is to take away your strengths and make the game difficult for you.”
Surprise package North Korea can also move ahead of rivals South Korea in Group 2 with a win against the struggling United Arab Emirates, whose campaign looks sure to be over if defeated.
North Korea are closing in on their first World Cup since 1966 and with South Korea’s campaign rapidly gaining momentum, the prospect of both Koreas playing in the finals for the first time looks increasingly likely.
Regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia, however, are at risk of missing out on the finals for the first time in 20 years and new coach Jose Peseiro has taken the bold move of dropping the country’s most decorated player to underline his tough approach.
Former Asian player of the year Yasser Al Qahtani is suspended for Saturday’s visit to Iran but his recent antics have prompted the no-nonsense Portuguese to dispense with the prolific marksman for the April 1 match with UAE.
“He (Al Qahtani) missed training and didn’t reply to repeated phone calls,” Saudi team manager Fahad Musaybih said in breaking the news to local media.
Peseiro is confident he can steer the Saudis, who are fourth in the group, to South Africa and recently told Reuters: “My players have the ability, the quality and technical capability to get to the World Cup, I have no doubt about this.”
Uzbekistan host Qatar in Saturday’s other match in a must-win game of the home side, who have just one point from four matches, despite having dominated the previous qualifying round.
Coach Mirdjalal Kasimov has introduced three new players in a last-ditch attempt to secure third place and a playoff berth for a second-successive campaign. Defeat is likely to bury their hopes of reaching their first World Cup finals.
The top two teams in each group qualify for South Africa 2010. The winner of a playoff between the two third-placed teams take on Oceania champions New Zealand for the final place in the 32-team tournament. -ESPN
