Arsenal billionaire blasts club´s board

Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov has attacked the Arsenal board, blaming underinvestment for the team’s six-year trophy drought.

Usmanov, 57, owns 30 percent of Arsenal Holdings, but is not a member of the board at the Emirates Stadium.

And he holds a low opinion of the incumbent directors at the English Premier League club, holding them responsible for the team’s failure to capture a major trophy since their success in the 2005 FA Cup final.

“If the role of a board member is to oversee a trophyless period, while making significant personal profits and asking fans to pay inflation-busting ticket price increases then, no, I would not want to be on the board,” Usmanov told the News of the World.

“If instead it is to try to deliver sustained success, to increase your personal investment in the club, to help develop the commercial position and to ensure the fans have a say in the running of the club then, yes, I think I certainly have something to contribute.”

“In terms of doing things differently, let me give you a very clear example: Arsenal has all of its major commercial contracts coming up for renewal in the next couple of years.”

“It’s no secret that to maximise the value of those (contracts) you want to have success on the field and be winning trophies.”

“To do that you need to invest now in building a winning team. This is simple commercial logic. Whether it comes to pass, we shall see.”

Usamonv believes manager Arsene Wenger needs to invest more heavily in the transfer market to break the team’s silverware drought.

“There is a widely-held view among most commentators – and one that I agree with – that the club needs to stiffen the defensive spine of the team, with a dominant keeper, strong centre-halves and a powerful defensive midfielder in the mould of Claude Makelele,” he said, referring to the former Chelsea holding player.

“The Premier League is one of the most competitive in the world and whilst we have consistently challenged for honours, the club needs to develop talent and buy top-class players to win the trophies we all crave.”

“This requires greater investment which, I believe, has been lacking thus far.”

“What, however, is not clear, is whether the board shares this view.”

“For too long they have seemed happy to sanction second, third and fourth as being acceptable, whilst at the same time they are planning to sell their shares.”