Charles Sale: Arsene Wenger open to Alisher Usmanov move

Posted on by Listify Me


PUBLISHED:

21:50 GMT, 27 April 2012

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UPDATED:

21:50 GMT, 27 April 2012

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger broke
ranks with the club’s hierarchy on Friday by saying he is open to
Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov taking a seat on the board.

Wenger’s ‘why not?’ comment when
asked whether Usmanov would be welcome in the Arsenal boardroom is the
first sign of any senior club figure being anything but wholly opposed
to Usmanov having the influence at the club his 29.66 per cent
shareholding warrants.

Breaking ranks: Wenger (right) showing support for Alisher Usmanov (left)

Arsenal’s intransigence is all the more
extraordinary considering Usmanov, whom Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke will
not even agree to meet, is listed by Forbes magazine as Russia’s richest
individual with an $18.1billion (about £11.3bn) fortune that far
outstrips compatriot Roman Abramovich’s.

At least Usmanov, who is understood
to have donated £3m towards the restoration of the Cutty Sark, will be
welcome in the VIP seats for the Olympic fencing at the ExCeL Centre
during London 2012 as president of the sport’s world ruling body.

An Arsenal spokesman said: ‘There is
no change in our director strategy. We are a club who pay our way and
that remains our approach.’

Usmanov is in favour of a rights issue to generate more spending power for Wenger.

BOA bore doors

The British Olympic Association want to make the kitting-out of Team GB at Loughborough University an inspiring occasion.

But sponsors have to be satisfied with their exposure as well.

So the induction areas that all Olympians will pass through to collect their clothing for every Games occasion are to be branded the Next Room (ceremonies and formal wear) followed by the Adidas Room (training, competition, presentation and village uniforms), which won’t necessarily make the heart beat faster, higher or stronger.

Sanchez’s dirty trick

A more plausible reason has emerged for John Terry kneeing Alexis Sanchez in the back than the sent-off Chelsea captain’s first fantasy explanation, that the Barcelona striker had backed into him.

Club insiders say the Chilean had wound up Terry by targeting his cracked ribs whenever they clashed during the two Champions League semi-final legs.

Rib crack away: John Terry is sent off

What’s done is done (slowly)… that suits MacBeath

Manchester City’s botched process to find a chief executive to replace Garry Cook, who left the club in September, makes even the Club England quartet charged with finding Fabio Capello’s successor look speedy.

And the longer the City vacancy remains unfilled, the more likely that interim CEO John MacBeath will become the permanent choice.

Tottenham’s midweek game against Bolton presents another potential obstacle to a long-awaited FA approach for permission to speak to Harry Redknapp about the England job.

The FA have been conscious of not wanting to disrupt a Spurs season going pear-shaped but the torturous process of resolving the England manager’s post has to be resolved soon.

Sky’s boxing hit hard

Sky Sports are expected to halve their 40-plus boxing shows in 2012-13, with Sports Agenda revealing promoter Ricky Hatton as a casualty.

Boxing chiefs claim Sky are having to reduce spending on other sports significantly to pay for football and F1 coverage.

Sky say there are no overall budget cuts and their boxing investment is becoming more selective.

Tommy turn-off

Popular pundit Tommy Langley, axed by Chelsea TV after criticising Andre Villas-Boas, was hoping to be re-employed when the Portuguese left.

But despite Langley being assured by the club that he will be invited back, Chelsea say a review of their TV operation is ongoing.

Cup of cheer: Fabrice Muamba

Muamba’s up for the cup

Fabrice Muamba, who has made such a remarkable recovery from cardiac arrest, could be seen in public at two matches next week.

He is expected to be at the Bolton-Spurs Premier League game on Wednesday and has a VIP invitation to the FA Cup final at Wembley three days later.

One rumour is that Muamba might present the Cup itself.

Nathaniel’s Samba party

Santos prodigy Victor Andrade, 16, seen as Brazil’s next superstar footballer, is to be represented on the commercial front by Chris Nathaniel’s NVA Entertainment Group, whose clients include Usain Bolt. Andrade’s first pro contract includes a £50m buy-out clause.

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