Arsenal Supporters Trust takes unprecedented step of surveying fans on Arsene Wenger's future

James Benge21 March 2017

The Arsenal Supporters Trust has taken the unprecedented step of surveying its members during the season over their views on the prospect of Arsene Wenger extending his contract.

Wenger wants to stay at the Emirates and said on Saturday that he had made a decision he would announce “very soon”, though he is aware of the growing fan unrest engulfing the club.

Though the AST has previously questioned club actions during the season, for instance calling for an inquiry into Arsenal’s transfer policy when they failed to sign a single outfield player in the summer of 2015, it has never taken the step of questioning its management at such a time.

However the Trust noted on its Twitter feed that the “vacuum of board leadership” compelled it to act, emailing its over 1,000 members to direct them to a survey the results of which they will direct to the upper echelons of the Arsenal management team.

The email said: “The situation around the manager’s contract and how that issue is handled is of great importance to the future of the club. We have received numerous requests from our members to take a position on this situation so after consideration the AST Board has decided to hold this short survey.

“We also note that the Arsenal board recently issued a statement on the matter itself demonstrating that it is an important subject for current debate. They also said they respected the views of supporters.

Arsenal fans protest against Arsene Wenger | March 7, 2017

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“By holding a survey we will be able to accurately reflect the views of all our members to the Board. We will ensure the results are provided in full so that every voice is heard.

“We will also publish the written comments provided by every member (providing they are not offensive) and all results are anonymous although we do need your name to confirm that you are a member.

“The results will be provided to the Arsenal Chief Executive, Ivan Gazidis and the Arsenal Board who do read and review all information submitted by the AST.”

Supporters have staged protests against Wenger at the last three Arsenal games, culminating in two planes circling over the Hawthorns, one calling for the manager to go and another for him to be respected – a summation of the polarised nature of debate among many fans.

Responding to calls for Wenger to go after a 5-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick said that any decision over whether the manager would sign the two-year contract on offer would be “mutual”.

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