Given the controversy that often surrounds issues of club ownership, be it leveraged buy-outs at Liverpool or Manchester United, or lack of transparency at Leeds or Portsmouth (to name but a few), it’s easy to forget that club ownership can have positive connotations too. A scheme launched today at Arsenal marks the first time that any Premier League club has entered into a formal partnership with its fans to actively promote supporter ownership. Vic Crescit, Gooner extraordinaire, explains more:
I’m proud to let you all know that after much skull-sweat, heartache, tantrums and wobblies Arsenal Supporters’ Trust formally launches Arsenal Fanshare today.
The scheme allows Gooners resident in Great Britain and Northern Ireland to invest between £10 and £1,000 a month in Arsenal Fanshare units, pegged to one-hundreth of the market value of an Arsenal Holdings plc share as quoted on the junior PLUS (formerly Ofex) stock market (currently £10,250 a share “mid-price” - half way between the “bid” or sell price of £10,000 and the “offer” or buy price of £10,500).
All member contributions will be used to buy Arsenal Holdings plc shares which will be held and voted as a block in a mutual “pool” under the direction of scheme members. The scheme has been registered as a separate stand-alone industrial and provident society (for boring legal reasons having to do with the Financial Services Authority) with all directors appointed by the Arsenal Supporters' Trust.
Each member will have their own Arsenal Fanshare account accessible on-line which will show the number of units they hold. The scheme has the full support and backing of the Arsenal board and senior executives who have committed to a major advertising and marketing push including adverts on the advertising boards and video screens at The Emirates, the match programme, and club website. Details have also been sent out in the annual membership packs to Arsenal’s 160,000 plus members.
The idea of Arsenal Supporters’ Trust was started in 2000 by two people in an Islington public house. From tiny acorns mighty oaks do grow. The Arsenal Fanshare website is now live. On-line membership applications have already been received in advance of the scheme’s formal launch. And I'm like dog with two tails!
Visit Arsenal Fanshare for more info: http://www.arsenalfanshare.com
For more on supporters’ trusts visit Supporters Direct.
Join the FSF for free today from this link.
The Football Supporters' Federation on Facebook.
