What’s the connection between the headline and Arsenal, you might ask?

Well, Colorado Rapids are owned by KSE (Kroenke Sports Enterprises) who, of course, hold the majority shareholding in Arsenal.

There have been increasing concerns over Kroenke’s stewardship of Arsenal, and it seems similar fears are shared by fans of the Rapids who have endured a difficult start to the new MLS season, winning just one of their first seven games.

A supporter’s group, Centennial 38, released a public statement outlining their issues over recruitment, planning, and strategy, but tellingly insisted:

We would like to emphasize to everyone: our members, the Rapids staff, the players, the press, and the greater Colorado soccer fan base as a whole, that there is a very important distinction to be made between being critical of the club itself, and being critical of the people that run it. Players, coaches, management, and even ownership all come and go. In the end the only thing that remains is the identity of the club, and the community that surrounds it.

There have been protests at Arsenal in recent times over the future of manager Arsene Wenger, and he remains the focus of those – including one planned for Sunday ahead of the Man Utd game – the almost total silence from Kroenke and the rest of the board raises big questions about how our club is being managed through what is the most difficult period in its recent history.

The only thing fans have heard is a perfunctory statement from chairman Sir Chips Keswick back in March which said:

“We are fully aware of the attention currently focused on the club and understand the debate. We respect that fans are entitled to their different individual opinions but we will always run this great football club with its best long-term interests at heart.

“Arsène has a contract until the end of the season. Any decisions will be made by us mutually and communicated at the right time in the right way.”

Kroenke is due in London later this month for a board meeting at which a new deal for Wenger could be ratified. Whether that’s the majority decision of the board remains to be seen, but ultimately the American businessman makes the final decision and he has never been anything other than 100% behind the 67 year old.

Meanwhile, we came across this Deadspin article from January 2016 which came in the wake of the announcement that the St Louis Rams would be moving to Los Angeles.

Kroenke, currently the subject of legal proceedings from the city of St Louis for ‘fraudulent misrepresentation‘, is the brunt of some serious criticism in the comments.

They’re well worth a read, like this one from ‘Joe‘:

Stan Kroenke is a duplicitous piece of shit. Fuck him. His ownership is a taint, not just in the sense of a stain on the NFL, but literally a taint, the area between the anus and testicles.

Fuck Stan and his toupee.

It’s safe to say moving the Rams from St Louis has made Kroenke an unpopular man.

And if anyone knows what a non-skid dildo is, please feel free to enlighten us in the comments.