Arsenal legend Tony Adams urges Josh Kroenke to connect with fans after Ivan Gazidis exit

Tony Adams has urged Josh Kroenke to give fans a greater voice at Arsenal following the departure of Ivan Gazidis to AC Milan.

Arsenal yesterday confirmed their CEO would leave at the end of the month with Gazidis’ job to be split between a new managing director, Vinai Venkatesham, and Raul Sanllehi, who becomes head of football.

Kroenke, son of majority owner Stan, remained in his current role on the board following the reshuffle but his powerbase at the Emirates is growing. The 38-year-old spent several weeks in London assessing Arsenal’s day-to-day operations before Arsene Wenger’s departure and significantly it was he who said farewell to Gazidis on behalf of the board.

Stan Kroenke has proven to be an unpopular custodian of Arsenal, one who is rarely seen engaging with supporters. Former Arsenal captain Adams says the younger Kroenke must change that.

“It’s interesting they’ve done a managing director and head of football,” he told Standard Sport. “It’s clearing the way for Josh to come back in in a more senior role.

“I think bringing Josh in might offer a bit of a face for the leadership. Arsenal fans just want someone to be accountable. They feel like they’re being ignored.”

Gazidis’ long-mooted move to Milan came in the light of his radical overhaul of Arsenal that culminated in the end of Arsene Wenger’s 22-year reign at the end of last season.

The 54-year-old played a significant role in the appointment of Unai Emery as the club’s new head coach whilst also recruiting the likes of Sanllehi, Sven Mislintat and Darren Burgess to head up new departments at the club.

That made it all the more surprising Gazidis should choose to move on, though the opportunity to turn Milan into a European force again and a £1million addition to his salary at Arsenal caught his eye.

Adams said: “It was difficult for him going into a club with someone like Arsene Wenger, who had won so much and had so much power. It’s really difficult for a CEO.

“It’s ironic that the moment he gets all the power he moves on, he had a real great opportunity to implement everything he wanted without Arsene there, to build the club how he wanted.

“It must have been a very difficult decision for him.”

Sober: Football. My Story. My Life, by Tony Adams with Ian Ridley is published by Simon & Schuster and available now in paperback