Tottenham Hotspur Fan Trust issued a statement on the resignation of club chairman Daniel Levi. The statement is as follows:
Levi suddenly resigned after serving as the club's executive chairman for 24 years, providing the new leadership with an excellent opportunity to deeply communicate with the club's future direction with the fan group. They should seize this opportunity.
Levi's most significant legacy is undoubtedly the construction of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which is widely regarded as one of the best football stadiums in the world, and also includes related infrastructure such as training grounds. Building such a court in our dense city center in Tottenham is no easy task. While some may still miss the closer White Hart Lane Stadium, it is clear that Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is necessary for the club to be able to compete with the top European teams. We thank Levi for his vision in realizing this vision and advancing the project.
However, focusing on cost and cost-effectiveness to complete the stadium construction has not achieved equal success on the stadium. For years, our members and other annual survey respondents have believed that the club’s development off-field is worthy of recognition, but also hope to pay more attention to football itself. Despite the delightful victory of the UEFA Cup, this is only Levi's second trophy in his 24-year term. Failure to make a bigger breakthrough during Pochettino's coaching and after the new stadium was a missed opportunity, which seemed to reflect the club's overly cautious in the transfer market, focusing too much on economic value and neglecting obvious weaknesses.
Real fan engagement is not natural for Levi. Although there is an ostensible commitment, it often means informing us of the club’s plans in a short time. Earlier communication may avoid some mistakes, such as proposing to move to Stratford, joining the European Premier League, leaving employees on leave during the epidemic, and cutting season ticket discounts for seniors.
Legally, ownership has not changed, but there is no doubt that Levi's departure marked the transfer of leadership to the Lewis family. Discussions on external investment are underway and we remind clubs of five principles that support trust funds, which we will use to evaluate any club owner. This also provides opportunities for more meaningful fan participation; a positive start has already emerged under the leadership of new CEO Vinay Venkatsham. The
Trust will continue to play a constructive role in the participation process and fulfill its role as a loyal friend of the club. Changes in leadership have raised questions about future strategies, timing of changes, external investment plans and ensuring that the club is in good management. The Trust will raise these questions by asking directly and participating in the FAB (Fans Advisory Committee). We thank Levi for his contribution to the club over the past 24 years and wish him all the best in his career in the future.