Camden New Journal - by STEVE BARNETT Published: 11 September 2008
Dein ‘quits’ Usmanov bid group
ARSENAL fans will be fearing more takeover talk after it was reported that David Dein has resigned as chairman of Red and White Holdings. Former Gunners vice-chairman Dein sold his 14 per cent stake in the club to Alisher Usmanov just over a year ago before becoming chairman of the Russian billionaire’s bid vehicle.
Usmanov has gone on to become Arsenal’s largest shareholder after buying up 24.9 per cent of the club.
Chairman Peter Hill-Wood has always maintained that Arsenal have no intention of selling the club.
But cracks seemed to be appearing in Arsenal’s stand against foreign investors at the weekend when Hill-Wood was reported to have said: “If someone came and made a really huge bid then you cannot recommend shareholders turn it down because we don’t like it. “The directors don’t want to sell but we are a public company. It depends on the price.”