Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith, Arsenal's third-largest shareholder, left the board on Wednesday. Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said he was not sure whether Bracewell-Smith would sell her shares.
But if her 15.9% stake was to become available, Uzbekistan metals magnate Alisher Usmanov could pass the 30% mark which would force a takeover bid. Usmanov already owns 24% through his Red & White Holdings company, having initially bought former vice-chairman David Dein's 14.5% stake in the club.
American sports tycoon Stan Kroenke, who holds a stake of about 12% in the Gunners' parent company, accepted an offer to become a non-executive director on the Arsenal board in September as ties with his Kroenke Sports Enterprises group were strengthened. If Kroenke were to buy the shares, he would become the club's majority shareholder with a 27.9% stake.
Key shareholder to leave Arsenal
According to the press, Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith was asked to leave after a row in the past few days with Peter Hill-Wood, which has left her furious about the "ruthless" manner of her abrupt departure.
But if her 15.9% stake was to become available, Uzbekistan metals magnate Alisher Usmanov could pass the 30% mark which would force a takeover bid. Usmanov already owns 24% through his Red & White Holdings company, having initially bought former vice-chairman David Dein's 14.5% stake in the club.
American sports tycoon Stan Kroenke, who holds a stake of about 12% in the Gunners' parent company, accepted an offer to become a non-executive director on the Arsenal board in September as ties with his Kroenke Sports Enterprises group were strengthened. If Kroenke were to buy the shares, he would become the club's majority shareholder with a 27.9% stake.
Key shareholder to leave Arsenal
According to the press, Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith was asked to leave after a row in the past few days with Peter Hill-Wood, which has left her furious about the "ruthless" manner of her abrupt departure.
Considering that since World War II, the major shares of Arsenal football club have been in the hands of the Hill-Wood and Bracewell-Smith families, this week's events inside the Arsenal boardroom must have been particularly acrimonious.
It's really hard to tell what's going on at the moment, but it looks inevitable that Arsenal will be taken over by either Usmanov or Kroenke, and that will be a sad day.
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