Tottenham Hotspur confirm fan representation will be added to its board following the failed attempts to be part of a breakaway European Super League caused fan anger across football.
Change Coming as Tottenham Hotspur Confirm Fan Representation to Join Board
Lessons Learnt
The statement released on the Tottenham Hotspur official website does not have a name to it, and whilst it refers to ‘we’ throughout, there is no mention of chairman Daniel Levy, owner Joe Lewis or any of the executive board being behind the message. However, it is safe to assume that is where the sentiment comes from at least.
The statement apologises to fans ‘unreservedly’ for the clubs’ part in the ESL talks and also seeks to justify the reasons that it entered into the negotiations.
It read: “It’s important to underline that we entered the ESL with the expectation that the format, rules and structures would evolve through dialogue with key parties, namely the Premier League, FA, UEFA, FIFA and, crucially, fans. It should never have been conveyed with certainty when it was in fact a framework agreement for consultation going forward.”
The statement refers to the legal process of the negotiations being why the club was unable to speak to fans initially about the plans, but it has been nearly three weeks since the plans collapsed before Tottenham have taken any steps to try and offer any sort of apology.
Full Non-Executive Board Member as Tottenham Hotspur Confirm Fan Representation
Fan power has been instrumental in the collapse of the ESL and Tottenham have acknowledged the need for great fan representation on the board, confirming that a new advisory panel will be formed of elected representatives from fans that represent the fans.
The statement continues: “We believe this provides for authentic, genuine representation and will ensure fans are at the heart of Club decision-making, something we greatly welcome.”
The position will be elected on an annual basis and the club wish to ensure that it will be reflective of the full supporter base. Tottenham also states that they will support the government review into the governance of football.
Disappointment With Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust
On Friday, April 23, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust called a meeting of its members in which they unanimously voted to call for the immediate resignation of the club’s executive board to which the club have not responded until this statement.
The THST had explained that they did not meet with the board for a board to board meeting as they felt that trust between the two boards had been irreparably damaged by the clubs’ actions over the ESL. Spurs however have expressed their disappointment in the Trust claiming that they have offered to meet with them and that calling for the resignations of board members is also disappointing.
The statement continued: “We are disappointed that the Board of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) has not yet met with the Club. The THST, with whom we have worked and, indeed, promoted, for 20 years has called for the resignations of the Executive Board over the ESL – individuals who have lived and breathed this club for the best part of two decades. We have offered on several occasions to meet Board-to-Board and discuss an open agenda – excluding a change of Club ownership and the resignation of the Board. Our door remains open on this basis.”
It is clear that the club feel there is no need for any resignations and it remains to be seen how the Trust will now respond to the latest development.
Fans and Success Come First
The statement concludes by asking that all fans get behind Ryan Mason and the team as they push to qualify for European competition for the 2021/21 season, and said that the club “are absolutely clear that the heartbeat of the Club is success on the pitch and our fans.”
There are further protests planned at Tottenham’s final home game of the current Premier League season against Aston Villa, so it will be a time to see whether the fans have been appeased by this statement or whether the anger is still burning among them.
Under ENIC, Tottenham have won just one trophy in 20 years and the success on the pitch to which they refer does not appear to be arriving anytime soon.
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