{"id":12247,"date":"2025-11-19T10:29:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T10:29:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=12247"},"modified":"2025-11-22T12:16:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T12:16:00","slug":"arsenal-supporters-trust-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=12247","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal Supporters Trust Update"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-11-at-19.14.34.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12249\" width=\"538\" height=\"301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-11-at-19.14.34.png 922w, https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-11-at-19.14.34-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-11-at-19.14.34-768x430.png 768w, https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-11-at-19.14.34-75x42.png 75w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 538px) 100vw, 538px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>TTG has undertaken a new interview with Nigel Phillips of the Arsenal Supporters\u2019 Trust to explore their recent activities and thoughts on current Arsenal matters.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>TTG: We were fascinated to learn more about the work of the Trust a few years ago. What is occupying most of your time at the Trust at the moment ?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Nigel Phillips:<\/strong> It was back in the autumn of 2018 that KSE became the single shareholder of Arsenal by buying the 29.9% of the Club from Red &amp; White Holdings (Alisher Usmanov) and forcing out the 500 \u201csmall\u201d shareholders with a compulsory purchase order. This changed much of what the Trust campaigned on and represented as there was no longer any equity interest outside of KSE and corporate governance issues became a matter for a private company! No more Annual General Meetings for shareholders. At this stage the Trust was into its 15<sup>th<\/sup> year since formation so we weren\u2019t going to disappear and have been active on a whole range of supporter issues such as ticketing matters (pricing, availability, touting and allocation), safe standing, matchday atmosphere, supporting community causes and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The whole European Super League debacle in April 2021 led to the creation of the Arsenal Advisory Board (AAB) on which the AST has representation. This meets four times a year with a combination of the Owner, senior executives and Directors to discuss all things Arsenal. The creation of the AAB and other such representative bodies at all Premier League clubs was an early pre-emptive action to demonstrate \u201cfan engagement\u201d to the then emerging Independent Football Regulator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Underneath the AAB there are four working groups, on which the AST also has representation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Ticketing forum<\/li><li>Match day forum<\/li><li>Woman\u2019s match day forum<\/li><li>Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Sustainability Forum<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The AST is also active within the Football Supporters\u2019 Association and the Football Supporters\u2019 Europe organisation. The AST has proposed motions opposing the increasing inevitability of Leagues \/ clubs wanting to play domestic matches overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>It&#8217;s been an incredibly hectic close season especially in relation to the transfer window! Did you expect Arsenal to be this active in the window?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was an amazing summer window with an extraordinary spend of almost GBP 300m with negligible funds coming in from player sales. To bring in EIGHT players that one could call \u201cprem ready\u201d in one window provides significant squad strengthening and is a sure sign that the Owner has gone \u201call-in\u201d on getting the Club over the winning line this season! Whilst much of this spend has come from paying&nbsp; for players in stage payments over several years (current future obligations to other clubs is now over GBP 300m) the money owed to the Owner is about GBP 325m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Are you comfortable with the PSR headroom the club has following their spending spree and are they similarly positioned financially in European terms?&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course Arsenal monitor closely its compliance with both the Premier League and UEFA financial regulations. The massive increase in club revenues from being back in the Champions League and growing commercial revenues have given Arsenal scope to increase its player cost base \u2013 both transfers and wages. We won\u2019t see figures for the year ended 31<sup>st<\/sup> May 2025 until late February 2026 and we already know the summer of 2025 was \u201cbusy\u201d. One signing that did show spending restraint was the late window loan arrangement for Piero Hincapie from Leverkusen but with options on both sides to make this deal permanent at a later stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>When we first met several years ago (at the Oval!), the topic on all supporters&#8217; minds was whether Arteta could survive the disastrous start to the season. Nevertheless, a lot of supporters are now suggesting that Arteta &#8216;has to win silverware&#8217; if he is to keep his job. Is this the Trust&#8217;s view?&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Trust doesn\u2019t have views on such matters but on a personal basis this does seem to be the season that we have to take that final step towards silverware. Whilst competing on four fronts and with a squad to support that, it is clear that 2004 is far too long ago and the Champions League trophy last season was within touching distance. As for Arteta\u2019s job security given another trophy-less season one can only assume that the pressure will be intense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>We understand KSE are looking at potential plans to increase our ground capacity. Do you think this is possible at the Emirates and have you had discussions with the club about this?&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is clear that this is being taken very seriously and many options are being considered to increase revenue from matchdays. Commercial revenues are growing and TV \/ performance money is increasing due to Champions League participation and larger centrally negotiated TV contracts yet matchday revenues only tick up gently with inflation \/ low single digit % increases.&nbsp; Whilst there have been reports of an extra 10,000 seats to meet ticket demand there is also work being done on seeking to get a higher \u201crevenue per seat\u201d from the existing 60,000 capacity. This would naturally lead to some higher price hospitality seats, actions that have been aggressively taken recently at both Manchester United and Chelsea. The Club have shared no plans and say \u201call options are being explored\u201d. The additions to the Arsenal Board of Otto Maly and Dave Steiner in late September gives an indication of the direction of travel. Both are long term Kroenke \/ KSE people with direct experiences of building and running the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (described by Josh as the \u201cgreatest stadium on the planet\u201d) and with significant real estate experience.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is right that Arsenal are reviewing all their options. Every week there is huge demand to watch the team play. They should ensure they consult with fans on any firm plans. We would remind the club of its important role as a community institution and stress that any changes to the stadium layout must ensure no loss of space allocated for general admission ticket prices<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>A lot of supporters were very concerned that the club continued to play Thomas Partey despite police investigations which have eventually developed into formal charges. They also started discussions about extending his contract. Where does the Trust stand on this issue?&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Again the Trust did not have a view on this matter but presented views of many members to the Club. Clearly it was sensitive matter and subject to the police investigation. And it should be remembered that no formal charges were made until after his Arsenal contract had expired.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Has the culture changed at the club since Josh Kroenke has effectively assumed ultimate control? Do you feel the club genuinely listens to fan concerns and especially do they recognise the large supporter organisations like the Trust?&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is clear that Josh (born on Cup Final day 1980) is the voice of his father who himself is now 78 years old. The appointment of Ben Winston to the Board shows how Josh is seeking to connect with the supporter base given Ben\u2019s long standing season ticket holding status and familiarity with Arsenal fans.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The AAB and the various Forums are the vehicles for representation, and these can only be as strong as the supporter reps sitting on them and views they share. It is a time to challenge and influence and be the critical friend that seeks to drive improvement and fairness.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The executive team engage well with supporters and it is through these interactions and making a coherent case that improvements can be achieved whether these need Owner consent or not.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Join the AST at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.arsenaltrust.org\">www.arsenaltrust.org<\/a> and get your voice heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Finally, speaking as a supporter are you optimistic about the new season? What are your expectations?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Expectations or hopes? We would all love to go one step further in the Premier League after three consecutive runners-up spots and the opening games and unbelievable defensive record give great confidence that this could be the season. However, with 15\/17 games in the Champions League maybe this is the easier one to win? My preference if such a thing is possible would be the Premier League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>COYG<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Christmas is on the horizon and, for those who celebrate it, <strong><em>is<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong> <strong><em>a time for giving. Willow would be an excellent recipient of your generosity. Whatever you can donate in the week beginning 2 December will be doubled. If you are able to donate during that week, please contribute what you can to this extremely good cause founded by Arsenal&#8217;s very own Bob Wilson. Here is an extract from Willow&#8217;s notice about this opportunity.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.willowfoundation.org.uk\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-14-at-11.40.45-1024x580.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12252\" width=\"567\" height=\"321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-14-at-11.40.45-1024x580.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-14-at-11.40.45-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-14-at-11.40.45-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-14-at-11.40.45-75x42.png 75w, https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-14-at-11.40.45.png 1134w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 567px) 100vw, 567px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This year, Willow is taking part in the&nbsp;<strong>Big Give Christmas Challenge<\/strong>, running<strong>&nbsp;for one week only&nbsp;<\/strong>from&nbsp;<strong>Tuesday 2 December<\/strong>. During this time,&nbsp;<strong>every donation you make will be DOUBLED<\/strong>, yes, doubled, thanks to our generous funders who have agreed to match your donation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That means your gift will have twice the impact on the lives of seriously ill young adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Save the date and keep a look out for more details on how&nbsp;<strong>you can be part of this wonderful week of giving.<\/strong> Check out the Willow Foundation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.willowfoundation.org.uk\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TTG has undertaken a new interview with Nigel Phillips of the Arsenal Supporters\u2019 Trust to explore their recent activities and thoughts on current Arsenal matters. TTG: We were fascinated to learn more about the work of the Trust a few years ago. What is occupying most of your time at the Trust at the moment [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[23,3,10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12247"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12247"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12278,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12247\/revisions\/12278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}