This weekend will see organised protests at Arsenal’s home game versus Norwich City. The theme of the protests will be that it is ‘Time For Change’ at Arsenal.

You can read more about the reasons behind this protest and how it will work at the following links for two other fans groups at Arsenal: REDaction and BSM.

The AST urges all our members to read these positions and reflect on their own views and then decide whether they wish to support the protest.

As soon as the season is over the AST will, as we always do, issue an on-line questionnaire to all members seeking your views on key issues. The results will then be presented to Ivan Gazidis and the Board ahead of the end of season supporters’ meeting on 3 June.

In the meantime the AST Board has discussed this issue and considered the feedback from our members in person, at recent meetings and on-line and we agree that there is a need for change at Arsenal, so we support that call and those who will raise this issue at the Norwich game.

The AST view is that we believe change is particularly needed in the following areas:

1. No more unaccountable, unexplained consultancy payments to Stan Kroenke and KSE. We believe that football clubs should be run for the benefit of supporters and communities, and not for the sole benefit of the owner.

2. New appointments to be made to the Arsenal Board so that it is fit for purpose; this means a better mix of youth and experience, more independence, and representation of all shareholders and the diverse fanbase. We would like to see more direct football expertise added to the Board.

3. Cash reserves to be taken out of the bank and used for the benefit of the team and supporters.

4. Overhaul of the football management and coaching structures, to put in place an organisation that doesn’t rely on one individual, however talented. All organisations need to evolve, and there have been no senior external appointments on the management or coaching staff for over a decade. Last year we called for an independent review of the club’s arrangements for the scouting, negotiating and signing of players; we still believe this would be a valuable exercise.

5. Genuine dialogue and engagement with fans by Arsenal, where supporters are listened to and their views are taken into account.