RABID FANS WON’T FORCE ME OUT
Kroenke insists he’ll never sell the Gunners even though ‘there are far easier ways to make money’
STAN KROENKE has told Arsenal’s ‘wonderfully rabid’ fans: ‘I’m about winning trophies not making money’.
The American tycoon was strong and ambitous in his vision for the Gunners and insists, ‘There are easier ways to rake in cash than owning a football club’.
Kroenke outlined his hopes for the future as he promised:
HE will never sell Arsenal and the club will remain in his family for generations.
THEY can win major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League.
ARSENE WENGER is the best man for the job and they regularly text each other.
WINNING trophies is what drives him on.
Kroenke, 70, will today face shareholders at the club’s AGM, after a roller-coaster year when some fans turned on the owners and the manager. It is an issue which Kroenke addressed head-on, but insisted the backlash was both good and bad.
“Sports fans are wonderful,” said Kroenke. “The best thing is the rabid fans. The worst thing is the rabid fans.
“They are passionate about the club, they have the right to their opinions and the only part I worry about is how it affects the players and the coaches.
“It can have a bad effect on that group and that’s the last group you want it to have a bad effect upon. That’s how I look at it. They always have opinions, they are entitled to them – I know there were some opinions about what we should do about Arsene. But we have always had a lot of respect for Arsene.”
Kroenke’s son and Arsenal director Josh added: “We said jokingly that the best and worst part is the fans’ passion.
“From an ownership standpoint, the emotions that are involved and we as fans feel those as well.”
Dad then interjected, laughing: “We might feel the same way!”
What comes across clearly in two hours spent in the company of Stan and Josh Kroenke was their passion for the club and their determination to make it successful.
Kroenke, who owns a 67.1 per cent stake, reiterated his commitment to the club and insisted he is not interested in selling.
Alisher Usmanov, who owns 30 per cent, made an offer in May. But there has not been any serious contact since then. Kroenke said: “There are a lot of easier ways, so many easier ways, to make money, I assure you!
“You guys talk about the downs, maybe that’s the nature of it, but if you are just trying to make money there are a lot easier ways to do it. Just look at our history. We get into these things to try to build them, grow them. You don’t see us selling things. We are committed long term.”
When pressed if they would ever consider a sale, Kroenke added: “No, absolutely not. That’s just not our model, not what we do.
“I love Arsenal, love being involved with Arsenal. There is no finer feeling than winning like we did with the FA Cup. Wonderful, wonderful feeling.”
Josh added: “There are few things as fun as going down to a dressing room and feeling that mood. Whether it’s the FA Cup or just a big win. The feeling is contagious and you want to keep doing it.”
Stan interjected again: “There’s nothing else like it. That whole afternoon and evening, we talked about what happened on the pitch. How wonderful was that?
“You hear people say, ‘I’d do anything to have that again’. That’s how you feel. You really want that feeling again.
“Look, we want to be champions of everything. Premier League, Champions League – we want them all.
“When they list them on my phone, they list a third one, they list the FA Cup: Arsenal. Right there, that’s your list of champions.
“We shouldn’t sell that short. Do we want to win more? Absolutely. We want them. We have to do better, but don’t sell short the FA Cup and Arsene’s record setting.
“His record of consistency through 20 years. We did fall out of the Champions League, but with four more points than finishing second the previous season. It’s competitive and arguably more competitive.”