Kroenke to launch takeover bid!!

[Adz]

Daily Mirror

BILLIONAIRE Stan Kroenke is desperate to clinch a £650million takeover of Arsenal - so he can bring back David Dein and stop Arsene Wenger quitting.

Kroenke, who owns 12 per cent of the club, is preparing to join forces with ex-vice-chairman Dein, who still has a 14.5 per cent stake. A bid is expected within the next fortnight.

Kroenke is still snapping up shares in the north Londoners, with the plan to raise his stake to 30 per cent - at which point the man willing to pump millions into the Gunners is obliged by takeover rules to launch a formal bid.

That would spark excitement among fans who have spent this summer fearing a third trophyless season and Wenger's departure when his contract ends next summer.

Kroenke wants to meet with the Arsenal board to ensure all parties are in agreement before proceeding. But he is also willing to be ready to carry on regardless if he is still met with the kind of resistance that saw Dein quit the club after 24 years.

At the time chairman Peter Hill-Wood refused to accept the American's millions. But relations between the two sides have softened since Kroenke met with Hill-Wood and managing director Keith Edelman in New York last month.

Tellingly, Kroenke has pointedly refused to sign a 'lock-down' agreement to which other shareholder-directors have already committed themselves, ruling out any trading for a year. The agreement has nine months left to run.

Kroenke now wants to meet the rest of the board. His spokesman, Paul Andrews, said: "He's very bullish about it."

Arsenal have admitted they would welcome talks. A statement said yesterday: "There is an open invitation by the chairman for Stan Kroenke to meet the rest of the board."

[superally]

Blimey,he must rate wenger highly.

[highbury lad]

So whats your opinion then Adz? all for it are you?

[guns blazing]

according to another source
If anybody wants to buy Arsenal they must find a seller. Arsenal shares are on Plus, a listing of companies that are not quoted on the stock exchange. That means any share movements are recorded, and the records show that Stan still has 12.2% (no increase) and that Dein has 14% (no increase). To be a buyer you must find a seller, there can be no dawn raid, no shareholder has to sell. Any sale will be transparent. There has been no movement in past month.
watch this space