Alisher Usmanov, the Russian billionaire metals magnate, wants the directors of Arsenal football club to be independent as a price for not being represented on the board, but gave a warning that he would take on anybody who tries to push him out of the club.

Mr Usmanov, whose Red & White Holdings investment vehicle owns 23 per cent of Arsenal, also made plain his disgust at allegations levelled against him about his background. "I am not a vindictive man, but I am not a whipping boy as well."