Arsenal – David Dein will be back!

Arsenal – David Dein will be back!

I found it a little curious when Hill Wood spoke so passionately about the refusal of the major shareholders to sell across the Atlantic. It wasn’t his words that raised the eyebrow but rather his lack of mention of David Dein who is also a major shareholder.

Dein has been without a doubt the most influential player in Arsenals recent success, so what did he have to say? This morning’s breaking news about DD leaving the club tells me one thing. He supports the take over bid and is willing to sell his own shares to make it happen.

DD has spent quite a bit of time in America recently and following his 3 hour meeting with Wenger after the City game tells me two things. Dein has made a deal with Kroenke to offload his shares and has most likely been told that once the take over has been completed he will once again be put in charge of running the club.

I wouldn’t be surprised if his meeting with Wenger was to reassure him of what was about to happen in the few days to come. Dein would quit, sell his shares and then once the takeover has been completed would be reinstated in the running of the club.

The tabloids and supporters of other clubs will quickly jump on the wagon entitled Doom and Gloom and do there best to instil uncertainty and dread in our hearts.

But for me, supporting Arsenal for 30 years I have seen the genius of Dein on a regular basis. He is a self-made millionaire and the ONLY reason Arsenal is who they are today. We owe him more than any other and we know that his heart and soul has and always will be with Arsenal. So if anything we can accept that what is about to come is the best thing possible for our club.

I know many of my Arsenal friends are against a take over. We don’t want to go the route of the other big clubs. If that’s the case then why don’t we have a squad full of English players? Arsenal is a world wide brand and an attractive investment.

Currently we are looking at reaching all financial goals in 15 years. If, no, when the takeover happens we will be there in 5.

This is not the situation of Chelsea where we are being taken over by a criminal. Not Man-U where massive loans need to be taken out to buy the shares. Not Liverpool where two owners need to join forces.

This is one reputable man who runs all three of his American franchises for the supporters and through his savvy nature has made billions! His clubs are successful because he gives the fans teams that they want to see play.

Dein is the driving force behind this take over. Hill Wood released his statement 30 minutes after a meeting with Dein and then the very same evening they part ways. Expect Dein to sell his shares within the next two weeks, possibly earlier. If that happens the Arsenal takeover could be in place before the start of the new season with Dein reappointed.

Topics: Arsenal, Features

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10 Comments

  1. Arsenal Analysis

    Dein will most probably come back with a joint bid with Kroenke. Kroenke is not an idiot. As we point out in our blog he would not spend 43m pounds if he had not a deal in place!

    April 19th, 2007 @ 15:47
  2. Ahmed Bilal

    I wonder if it’s right to expect DD to return quickly – considering that the board effectively kicked David Dein out after him and the board disagreed on their next step (board don’t want to sell, DD wants them to listen to what Kroenke has to say).

    April 19th, 2007 @ 15:48
  3. Norman

    I doubt Dein would return until after the take over was finalized. I just get the feeling that this is going to happen fast. The board can say what they want but if Kroenke gets the 30% required and launches an official take over they wont be-able to stop it!

    April 19th, 2007 @ 15:58
  4. Stephen

    They will if all the majority shareholders stick their fingers up at the offer.

    April 19th, 2007 @ 16:27
  5. Norman

    Um….ok Stephen. 30 per cent is needed to trigger an automatic takeover bid under Stock Exchange rules. Never heard of that rule? Why do they call it HOSTILE take over? The board can have as many fingers as they like, but it wont stop the inecitable if he gains that 30%.

    April 19th, 2007 @ 16:53
  6. lc

    WE should support competent board managers to run our club.
    Dein is one them. It didn’t take him 70 years to take the Arsenal to the european top elite clubs. Dein has got vision and he knows why a take over is needed, because at the moment we can’t compete with Chelsea, Manchester United and now Liverpool who crashed us two weeks ago by 4-1.
    AW did a fantastic job by thinking of the club’s future in relation to the expansion of the academy; but all these young lads need to develop positively along side a strong squad of quality and experience players, and not with a losing and always demoralised squad.
    New quality and experience signing is a MUST this summer. The current board has a duty to bring Dein back, because they own him the Arsenal current success.

    April 19th, 2007 @ 17:46
  7. Norman

    Agree, except the current board will not bring him back. As far as things are right now its over for Dein. But as I say above. Dein will be back in charge once the take over has been finalized and not before. I believe this could happen very, very soon. Kroenke sent a letter to the Arsenal Supporters Trust highlighting his desire for them to play a major role going forward.

    Why would he do that…?

    April 19th, 2007 @ 17:55
  8. Reader

    Fair comment Norm on the ’30 per cent’ trigger – but your math is wrong. Even with Dein’s 14.5% stake the american would still own less then 26% in Arsenal. Short of the magice 30%. Which would entitle him to a seat on the board but nothing else.

    April 19th, 2007 @ 19:54
  9. Ahmed Bilal

    Getting 5% off the market is not as hard as you think it is mate…

    April 19th, 2007 @ 21:04
  10. Paul D'Arcy

    You certainly make a good case for Dein and Kroenke.

    Check out my opinion on http:///www.goonertimes.com

    April 19th, 2007 @ 21:57

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