With Tottenham in freefall under Ange Postecoglou, the blame game is in full swing at N17. Is it a sick football culture and obsession with all things commercial, or just a biblical injury list?
In reality, Spurs’ present soap opera is most likely a combination of all of the aforementioned factors, as well as numerous other structural concerns.
It’s difficult to argue that the manager isn’t responsible for several of them, but it’s Levy’s blood that fans want – and with one trophy in the twenty-first century, who can blame them?
Tottenham are winless in their past seven Premier League games.
Granted, that run was capped with a 1-0 League Cup semi-final first-leg victory over all-conquering Liverpool, giving them a half-decent chance of winning their first trophy since 2008.
But, whereas the last decade or so has been marked by the notion that silverware of any kind will improve things at Spurs, the malaise in this area of North London is now far beyond a quick cure.
Winning English football’s least prestigious’major’ award would undoubtedly not quell calls for Levy to go down as chairman.
Similarly, considering the low prize money and status on offer from the League Cup, it is unlikely to be a deciding factor in whether Ange Postecoglou retains his job at ENIC.
For comparison, the difference between finishing 15th (Tottenham’s current league place) and 14th in the Premier League is approximately 20 times greater than the reward for winning the League Cup.
If there is one thing that drives ENIC and Levy, it is money.
The owners have never taken any equity out of the club, despite the fact that Levy has been paid more than £50 million in his role as chairman since 2000, when he took over the post on an interim basis.
Levy would claim that he is good value after orchestrating the relocation to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, making the Spurs the most profitable team in Premier League history, and increasing revenue by more than 1,000 percent.
And, while Tottenham fans, who judge success using entirely different standards, would strongly disagree, the 62-year-old has demonstrated his commercial savvy once more in recent weeks.
Tottenham break £250 million barrier.
Deloitte just announced its annual Football Money League, which rates clubs based on official statistics and financial measures.
Tottenham’s revenue plummeted from eighth to ninth place, with their absence from the Champions League causing turnover to dip from £550 million to about £515 million.
However, commercial income has increased from £218 million to almost £250 million.
And, given that Spurs have signed nine new sponsorship deals since the beginning of the season, fans may expect that total to grow again when the 2024-25 figures are announced.
Spurs also had the lowest wages-to-turnover ratio of any team in the Money League, which does not bode well for supporters looking for additional investment.
We can also definitely predict that, while not all clubs’ records are yet available, this will result in the Premier League’s lowest wages-to-turnover ratio in 2023-24.
Levy and ENIC would claim that their business strategy is sound, and they are simply living within their means.
The more cynical among us, however, might argue that they have merely discovered that spending enough to fight for the top six Premier League slots results in the best income-expense ratio.
In any event, it isn’t working this season, and no amount of commercial revenue can compensate for the shame that a bottom-half place in the Premier League – or worse – would bring.
The Todd Kline mystery: where is Tottenham’s CEO?
Although Spurs fans are weary of hearing about the club’s commercial department, they may be wondering who is currently in charge.
It has been about a year since Tottenham announced that chief commercial officer Todd Kline would be leaving the club in a terse statement that suggested he left under a cloud.
Kline’s defection to Chelsea became public shortly after.
Spurs have yet to designate his successor, albeit an anonymous individual with the title of ‘chief commercial officer’ did attend a major sports business conference late last year.
According to football financial expert Kieran Maguire, whoever it is might have a significant impact on the club’s future because they will almost certainly be appointed to the board.
Maguire told TBR Football that teams have some control over commercial revenue.
It has been about a year since Tottenham announced that chief commercial officer Todd Kline would be leaving the club in a terse statement that suggested he left under a cloud.
Kline’s defection to Chelsea became public shortly after.
Spurs have yet to designate his successor, albeit an anonymous individual with the title of ‘chief commercial officer’ did attend a major sports business conference late last year.
According to football financial expert Kieran Maguire, whoever it is might have a significant impact on the club’s future because they will almost certainly be appointed to the board.
Maguire told TBR Football that teams have some control over commercial revenue.
“Therefore, having someone with experience in the role and can communicate at a ‘C’ level is crucial.
“I would imagine the commercial director will have a board position because the decisions they make are significant financially in the long term.”
