Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke warns ‘rabid’ Gunners fans he will NEVER sell the club… and again backs boss Arsene Wenger
Under-fire Gunners chief says he will fight any attempt to force him out of the Emirates ahead of today's AGM
STAN KROENKE told “rabid” Arsenal fans: You will never force me out.
Ahead of today’s club AGM, the Gunners chief maintained he will NEVER sell his shares.
Kroenke, alongside son and club director Josh, rejected claims they are in football just for the money.
Asked if there was any chance he would sell, he said: “No. Absolutely not. That’s just not our model.
“Just go look at our history. “You don’t see us selling things. We are committed long-term.”
The US tycoon, 70, added: “Sports fans are wonderful. They are rabid. That’s the good news. They are rabid. That’s the bad news. They always have opinions.
“The only part I worry about is how it affects the players and the coaching staff and that’s the last group you want it to have a bad effect upon.
“There’s a percentage that don’t like you. I love Arsenal, love being involved with Arsenal.”
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Alisher Usmanov, who owns 30 per cent of the club, saw a £1billion bid for Kroenke’s 67 per cent share rejected earlier this year — and there have been no other offers since.
Kroenke also says the Gunners are determined to keep contract rebels Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil and revealed how they made a tough call in extending Arsene Wenger’s contract.
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In an interview with the Telegraph, he added: “It’s easy to change coaches and people do it all the time.
“We just think that Arsene is doing a great job and he’s the right guy.
“I think he is more focused than ever.”
But the club’s Supporters Trust want Sir Chips Keswick and Josh Kroenke voted off the board.
The AST will take action at today’s AGM in a bid to show “significant governance change is needed.”
One third of the directors must seek re-election.
In AST statement read: “We will vote against the resolutions to reappoint Sir Chips Keswick and Josh Kroenke to the board.
“We feel the present directors are not acting with sufficient independence or representing the interests of the small shareholders, or the future custodianship of the club.”
