http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article2350389.ece
THE Cold War for control of Arsenal intensified last night with America and Russia at each other’s throats.
Gunners’ board moved to prevent a possible takeover by Uzbekistan metals magnate Alisher Usmanov.
Director Danny Fiszman sold 5,000 shares for £42.5million to US sports tycoon Stan Kroenke — who now owns 20 per cent of the club.
And, in doing so, Fiszman and the rest of the board — who had to agree to the sale — have publicly shown their dislike of Usmanov.
Fiszman, who has vowed to hold on to his remaining 16.1 per cent stake, is a fierce enemy of Usmanov and former vice-chairman David Dein who sold his 14.65 per cent shareholding to the Russian in 2007.
The agreement to sell to Kroenke rubber-stamps the board’s massive U-turn over the American.
When he first bought a stake in Arsenal, chairman Peter Hill-Wood remarked they did not want “his sort” involved.
But as Usmanov, who owns 25 per cent of the club, has cranked up his interest the board have moved to welcome the Yank.
Kroenke is now a friend and Fiszman said: “Stan’s long-term commitment to sport in general and football in particular has been well documented. I am therefore delighted he has shown this desire to deepen his ties with Arsenal.”
The key figure in Arsenal’s future now is Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith who owns a crucial 15.9 per cent.
She was ousted from the board in November at Fiszman’s suggestion. If she sells to Usmanov, the club could be catapulted into chaos.
Buying Bracewell-Smith's stake would officially trigger a takeover bid as it would push Usmanov's stake beyond the 30 per cent threshold. But the board hope she will do business with Kroenke.
The American says Arsenal are going in the right direction under the current set-up.
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.”