Over the last month events and developments have fuelled long-standing discontent with the situation at THFC. THST has made fan feeling extremely clear to the Club’s Board. We have publicly called for the Club to set out its strategy, reiterating that call when Antonio Conte questioned the practice of no-one from the Club giving public interviews to explain the strategic approach.
The Club’s response has been to say it would make a statement after the transfer window has closed and when the Club’s financial statements were published.
We think more needs to happen and to happen now. Our strongly held view is that the current situation, combined with the lack of an external articulation of a strategy, is fuelling further turmoil.
The current level of discontent is not down to one transfer window. Since Daniel Levy stated “as a Club we have been so focused on delivering the stadium and dealing with the impact of the pandemic, that I feel we lost sight of some key priorities and what’s truly in our DNA” fans have seen little evidence of real improvement. Indeed, managerial appointments have not demonstrated a consistent approach and the future of the current manager is now the subject of disquieting press reports.
On top of all this, the person in day-to-day charge of transfer business is facing the prospect of a ban which would inhibit their ability to fulfil their role. With an appeal being lined up, we are not going to comment on the detail of the charges, but fans are owed an explanation as to whether the Club conducted due diligence when making this appointment and what the contingency was should the current situation arise.
We are aware that calls for THFC’s chairman and owners to go are being made with increased vigour. We have made sure the Club is aware of them. We also know that, whilst many supporters do not back this position and others are alienated by the style of campaign and its tactics, they still have genuine criticisms of the way our Club is being run.
It is also evident that a lack of a clearly expressed direction and strategy is having an effect on the pitch. And there are plenty of examples of what can happen if this is not addressed. We need evidence that anyone who owns and runs THFC understands this and is capable of resolving the current problems, and is willing to work with supporters to achieve this.
We believe the Club’s Board needs to articulate and demonstrate a clear strategy that puts footballing success as the priority. In our last survey, 70% acknowledged the Board’s financial stewardship, but said that the Board needed to improve its performance when it came to footballing matters. Fans deserve greater transparency and accountability from the Club Board, and a greater commitment to communicating with and working with them. Supporters are critical to the overall success of the Club, bringing the passion and intensity that drives the team forward on match days as well as being ambassadors in the wider community. Hearing, and responding to, the concerns of fans, as well as trusting them with information about the Club they love, would show strength of leadership and reap huge rewards in terms of understanding and, ultimately, loyalty.
With no alternative to the current ownership emerging, our responsibility as a Trust is to do all we can to get the current owners to do better. We will continue to do that, articulating discontent and proposing solutions. We continue to work with the Club and with other groups on developing a Fan Advisory Board that provides a genuine opportunity for fans to have a greater say in the way our Club is run. Our position has always been that, backed by our members, we remain willing to work with any people or supporters’ groups who are prepared to be transparent, accountable and respectful in the way they conduct themselves.
Spurs fans are united in their support for the team. What is needed now is a clear demonstration that the Club Board understands the current problems and is willing and able to deal with them. We believe this is a position that most Spurs fans can unite around, and we remain convinced that a united fan base can achieve more than a divided one.
THST Board
23 January 2023
We think more needs to happen and to happen now. Our strongly held view is that the current situation, combined with the lack of an external articulation of a strategy, is fuelling further turmoil.
The current level of discontent is not down to one transfer window. Since Daniel Levy stated “as a Club we have been so focused on delivering the stadium and dealing with the impact of the pandemic, that I feel we lost sight of some key priorities and what’s truly in our DNA” fans have seen little evidence of real improvement. Indeed, managerial appointments have not demonstrated a consistent approach and the future of the current manager is now the subject of disquieting press reports.
On top of all this, the person in day-to-day charge of transfer business is facing the prospect of a ban which would inhibit their ability to fulfil their role. With an appeal being lined up, we are not going to comment on the detail of the charges, but fans are owed an explanation as to whether the Club conducted due diligence when making this appointment and what the contingency was should the current situation arise.
We are aware that calls for THFC’s chairman and owners to go are being made with increased vigour. We have made sure the Club is aware of them. We also know that, whilst many supporters do not back this position and others are alienated by the style of campaign and its tactics, they still have genuine criticisms of the way our Club is being run.
It is also evident that a lack of a clearly expressed direction and strategy is having an effect on the pitch. And there are plenty of examples of what can happen if this is not addressed. We need evidence that anyone who owns and runs THFC understands this and is capable of resolving the current problems, and is willing to work with supporters to achieve this.
We believe the Club’s Board needs to articulate and demonstrate a clear strategy that puts footballing success as the priority. In our last survey, 70% acknowledged the Board’s financial stewardship, but said that the Board needed to improve its performance when it came to footballing matters. Fans deserve greater transparency and accountability from the Club Board, and a greater commitment to communicating with and working with them. Supporters are critical to the overall success of the Club, bringing the passion and intensity that drives the team forward on match days as well as being ambassadors in the wider community. Hearing, and responding to, the concerns of fans, as well as trusting them with information about the Club they love, would show strength of leadership and reap huge rewards in terms of understanding and, ultimately, loyalty.
With no alternative to the current ownership emerging, our responsibility as a Trust is to do all we can to get the current owners to do better. We will continue to do that, articulating discontent and proposing solutions. We continue to work with the Club and with other groups on developing a Fan Advisory Board that provides a genuine opportunity for fans to have a greater say in the way our Club is run. Our position has always been that, backed by our members, we remain willing to work with any people or supporters’ groups who are prepared to be transparent, accountable and respectful in the way they conduct themselves.
Spurs fans are united in their support for the team. What is needed now is a clear demonstration that the Club Board understands the current problems and is willing and able to deal with them. We believe this is a position that most Spurs fans can unite around, and we remain convinced that a united fan base can achieve more than a divided one.
THST Board
23 January 2023