http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6971124.stm David Dein, the former Arsenal vice-chairman, has sold his 14.5% stake in the club to a firm co-owned by a Russian billionaire. Let the rumors and speculation start all over again.....ugh
Because...? With few exceptions I'm neutral on the takeover aspect provided it's done on the best terms for the club (No carried debt, no delusional schemes for improving the club or brand, etc.). But anytime I hear "Russian" + "billionaire" my gut tells me we're dealing with a modern day robber-baron. If this character is anything like Abromovich, whom I believe gained his wealth illegally and immorally, then count me among those whole-heartedly against his involvement. I'll reserve judgement in that I don't think he's one of the Russian Big Six, and Dein's involvement suggests an aire of legitimacy. That's as far as I'm willing to go now.
Dein is a bit of a whore isn't he? How many different dates is he bringing to this dance? The team is playing well, Wenger's negotiations are going well so I should have figured something would come along to screw with us. We are a hostage situation away from being Dream Team...
Once again it was a bolt out of the blue with the news today that Dein is selling his shares to a Russian. Why is it always such a suprise when Arsenal spend in the transfer market and buisness like this takes place?? It was a suprise when Dein left, and a suprise he has sold his shares to the Russian not to Kroenke. I believe he figured out that Kroenke was all talk and no action, and lets not forget that Kroenke may become involved in a partnership with the Russians or vice versa to get control of Arsenal via a hostile takeover, or seeing as Bernie Ecclestone and Dein are old friends, perhaps Bernie could "invest" in Deins company? Who knows, but I do feel there may be a hostile attempt before d-day next April, when the main shareholders lock down is finished. Here is Deins statement: Rousing speech, isn't it? I am completley against any takeover, but if it HAD to happen either way I would much rather have a Ecclestone/Dein partnership than any Russian or American owners, because I do feel that the club needs to stay in British hands. The club needs to keep its identity plus Ecclestone seems less shady than an unkown Russian. Right before Deins statement was read out on Sky Sports, Keith Edelman was saying that Arsenal "don't need outside invesement" and basically they are doing fine as they are at the moment, and the club needs to be run for the long term and by itself to ensure stability.
I think when you're talking about this amount of wealth it's usually gained with some bit of immorality or illegality.
No, he sold his shares to this guy: Chairman is a nice title. But, it still means that you are an employee. DD now works for Alisher Usmanov, the kindly gentleman known as the "Hard Man of Russia" and the "Enforcer". I am sure that Usmanov will keep Arsenal's best interests close to heart, though.
I think it was a shrewd move by Dein. Right now, he is pretty much in the same position as before, but if he doesn't like what is going on he can walk away with £75m in his sky rocket.
Oooh, sounds like the cue for an Anti-Flag song! Your daddy was a rich man, your daddy's f***in' dead!!!
I think he is in a better position than before, because he has made the first move and shown his hand. It is like a big chess game with Dein/Usmanov on one side and the board on the other, with Wenger on the sideline watching the game. The fact he hasn't sold his shares with Kroenke, like it was assumed, obviously means in my eyes that he feels the Russians are better partners to have if he wants to get back into the Arsenal board room. Even the company name "red and white" is Arsenal-esque.
Is he Russian Mafia? He certainly has a reputation as a reputation as a hard man of business even among Russia’s oligarchs. Maybe it will be the case if he owns the club that the team become more violent especially in derbys with the Scum lol.
Yeah, it's a good move financially and it very well may lead him to being chairman at Arsenal in the future. But he's fooling himself if he thinks that he will be the one who will be truly calling the shots working for a guy like Usmanov. The man is not nice: http://www.archangeldiamond.com/txl.asp?page=216.
id rather have the shares out of kroenke's hands, because we all know what his intentions are. however, selling our souls to the ruskis is not what i had in mind. i think it is good news that kroenke isnt getting anymore power, but im feeling a little unwell over this 'hard man of russia' tag. i want ecclestone.