Gazidis - Mr Kroenke understands the Club

By Chris Harris

Ivan Gazidis believes that Stan Kroenke will be a force for good at Arsenal after increasing his majority shareholding in the past week.

The American has been a Director since September 2008 and now owns 66.64 per cent of Arsenal Holdings plc after making an offer for the Club in April.

Mr Kroenke has a long history of successful sports club ownership and, according to Arsenal's Chief Executive, he will continue to be a positive influence at Emirates Stadium.

"With respect to Stan we have someone who understands the Club," said Gazidis, speaking at a Q&A with the Arsenal Supporters Trust on Monday.

"Danny Fiszman's [illness] precipitated the change in the ownership structure and led to Danny deciding to sell to Stan Kroenke. He knew him and he was comfortable selling his shares to him, he trusted him with the great responsibility of this Club.

"Mr Kroenke is known to the Directors and they have confidence in him. In his track record in sports, and also very importantly his track record with Arsenal, he has used a self-sustainable model and brought success to his sports teams and he wants success for Arsenal.

"He has grown to love Arsenal but he will remain in the background. This is not somebody who steps forward and looks for a public profile."

Gazidis also reassured AST members who are concerned that Mr Kroenke's offer for the Club will be financed by debt.

He said: "The confirmations that Mr Kroenke gave in relation to his offer were, one, that he supports the self-sustainable business model of the Club, and secondly that the offer would not be funded by debt against the Club or dependent on Arsenal's business.

"Those were two significant commitments and confirmations that he made."