A step closer

Home is where the Hart is. There is no denying it, we are N17. Placing aside all the politics of Stratford and the reality that had we won the bid the club would have skipped gleefully to East London (I would have gladly stayed behind) it's heart warming to see us make progressive steps to cement the development of the NDP in Tottenham. The club and Haringey holding hands? Who would have believed it? Everyone singing from the same hymn sheet. Hallelujah!

From the official website:

The following statement was released jointly by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and Haringey Council in conjunction with the release of Haringey’s report to Cabinet on regeneration in North Tottenham:-

Joint statement – Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and Haringey Council

Tottenham Hotspur FC and Haringey Council have today made a joint pledge to the major regeneration of North Tottenham.

Spurs has reconfirmed its intention to stay in the area which has been at the heart of its history for more than 130 years and the Club and Council will work together to rejuvenate the area – seeking to deliver an iconic, new Premier League stadium development and a host of local improvements.

Subject to Cabinet approval, Haringey Council will invest £9 million towards new and improved public spaces, heritage work and environmental improvements in North Tottenham.

In addition, the Mayor of London has committed £18 million to the regeneration of North Tottenham, £6 million of which will be invested via the council in highways and parking improvements and a district-wide heating and power scheme.  The rest of the Mayor’s investment will focus on public transport and infrastructure improvements.

Spurs has committed to progressing the Northumberland Development Project (NDP), which would bring a state-of-the-art football stadium, new homes, shops and leisure facilities to Tottenham and represent an investment of hundreds of millions of pounds whilst also leveraging in further private sector monies.

Tottenham Hotspur Chairman, Daniel Levy, said: “As a major employer and business in the area we are delighted with this commitment from the Mayor and Haringey Council.

“We have long said we could only invest in the area if we could see our commitment supported by others and that there was a real need to maximise the regeneration benefits and lift the wider area.

“We therefore see this as a commitment from the public sector to the Tottenham area and one which strengthens our ability to deliver a new stadium scheme with the potential to kick-start the long-term regeneration of North Tottenham.”

Haringey Council Leader Claire Kober said: “We have said all along that we are eager to support Spurs in their efforts to stay in Tottenham. They’re a great club, with a great history in a great area which really wants them to stay.

“We are investing in the regeneration of Tottenham and supporting Spurs’ Northumberland Development Project because we know that together we can bring new employment opportunities to Tottenham, significantly improve the area and attract investment for a successful and sustainable future.”

As part of the Club and the Council’s commitment to work together, both parties have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding which sets out the intentions of each to support delivery of the Northumberland Development Project scheme and to promote wider area regeneration through the development of a ‘North Tottenham Regeneration Programme’.

Subject to consultation with local residents and businesses, this will focus on improving the quality of life of existing residents, attracting new residents and new facilities and encouraging the growth of local businesses to enable residents, businesses, investors and visitors to have confidence and pride in Tottenham.

Further Information
 
Subject to London Borough of Haringey Cabinet approval, the £18 million funding package from the Greater London Authority is proposed to be allocated as follows:

£11.0m:  Wider Area
- £8.5m:  Stadium Approach – land acquisition and new public boulevard/square linking to new White Hart Lane Station ticket hall
- £2.5m:  CCHP (combined cooling, heating and power plant) – funding towards construction of plant with capacity to serve NDP & potential new development in North Tottenham

£3.5m:  Highway, Parking & Environmental Improvements
- £2.22m:  Highway, bus & pedestrian route improvements
- £0.98m:  CPZ implementation including free residents permits
- £0.1m:  Road closures and Traffic Management Orders
- £0.2m:  Access improvements to Northumberland Park Station

£3.5m  Public Transport Capacity Improvements
- £3.5m:  Tottenham Hale Station – funding towards gateline and escalator passenger capacity improvements
 
Subject to London Borough of Haringey Cabinet approval, the £9 million funding package from the Council is proposed to be allocated as follows:

£8.0m:  Public realm and heritage improvements
- £5.0m:  Contribution to community event and public space
- £3.0m:  Heritage building improvements

£0.5m:  Highway, Parking & Environmental Improvements
- £0.5m:  Worcester Avenue – environmental, traffic & parking improvements

£0.5m:  Wider Area
- £0.5m:  Development of North Tottenham Regeneration Masterplan

Subject to consultation with local people and businesses and to formal approval by the council, the following 10 ‘Transformation Principles’ are proposed to guide the preparation of the details of the North Tottenham Regeneration Programme:

1.    Phased redevelopment and improvement focused on enabling existing residents to stay in the area in better quality homes.
2.    Expanding housing choice and supply.
3.    Social and economic development programmes to increase educational attainment, job skills and opportunity for local people.
4.    Fostering the growth of new and existing businesses in appropriate locations and, where moves are necessary, supporting firms to remain in Haringey.
5.    Increasing jobs.
6.    Sustainable development with access to new public spaces for community and cultural events.
7.    Phased provision of supporting community infrastructure, including school places and healthcare facilities.
8.    Increasing residents’ and visitors’ perceptions of safety.
9.    Catering for the needs of visitors, maximising spend in North Tottenham while minimising adverse impacts on residents and businesses.
10.    Maintaining strong public transport links with the wider area and modernising rail infrastructure.

Would be phenomenal if there was a solution to the underground problem with one being built closer to the ground. The logistics suggest that won't happen, mainly because the cost doesn't appeal to London Transport. One step at a time.

COYS

D-Levy wants to D-List

Morning.

You'll have seen the financial results and club announcement from Spurs. We plan to 'de-list' the club from the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and cease to be a public limited company, mainly for the reason that this (remaining a PLC) restricts us from gaining private investment in order to aid the NDP financially. A private company is the long and winding road we choose to skip down.

"It is clear to us that increasing the capacity of the Club's stadium is a key factor in the continued development and success of the Club and will involve the Company in considerable additional capital expenditure. Given this requirement, we believe that the AIM listing restricts our ability to secure funding for its future development. We are ambitious for the Club and have always taken the steps that we believe to be in its best interests." - Levy

The AGM is on December 13th, so the majority owners of ENIC will propose then that we are de-listed. Won't be an issue, ENIC own 82% of the shares (the remaining small shareholders will be able to sell their shares if they wish).

Long term, ENIC and Levy are positioning themselves for the money shot. Build a new stadium. Maximise potential profits. Sell the club.

No shocking revelation there. ENIC are an investment company with shareholders and as long as the club is left in a healthy state nobody is going to complain when the time comes for Levy to move on (other than myself as I'll have to register a new domain name and writing letters to Daniel will hardly be relevant if he's no longer at the helm). Although hopefully the caveat will stress 'do not sell to anyone with oil money and playboy traits'.

Point is, ENIC are custodians and there is little argument against the fact that we have (in terms of business) been run supremely well in recent years considering we are not a seasoned CL club and still play in a below 40k stadium. That's mainly down to Levy and the fact he has the Tottenham brand to play with and a massively loyaly fanbase to lean on. But that next step is imperative to the ethos of being unequivocally competitive with other clubs that are richer thanks to ticket revenue and over-priced Coca-Cola.

The following quote below doesn't quite inspire, although again this might simply be Levy's siege mentality on gaining the necessary monies the club needs to push the NDP into its phase of reality:

A financing package will need to include bank finance, enabling development and sponsorship. Quite clearly any significant, further investment by the Club would need to be in the context of a commitment by the public sector to undertake public infrastructure works in order to create the environment and confidence to commit further.These would include public sector improvements such as public space upgrades, improved public transport and public realm works, to be delivered in the surrounding area and to contribute to the general uplift of the borough, thereby creating an area in which the Club can justify an investment of hundreds of millions of pounds, secure funding and be a catalyst for further regenerative investment. We are continuing to hold positive and constructive discussions with local, regional and national government as we seek to move this scheme forward.

The rumoured £7.5M Boris has promised is hardly game-changing and we still await to see if a new tube station is forthcoming. A game of Thrones.

Fact is, the club (ENIC) need to push on. We need that new 55+ ground and I have no doubts that's what we'll achieve. Otherwise, there is no progression for Spurs or Levy and therefore nothing for ENIC's shareholders to feast on in the years ahead.

As for the financial results:

Champions League football revenue rose almost £44m to £163.5m

Operating profits up 42% to £32.3m

Costs of maintaining the squad up 35% to £131.2M (compared to 2010 £97.1M)

Club recorded a pre-tax profit of £400,000

More money made thanks to CL, more money spent on general costs and outgoings (new training ground, NDP, debt reduction, player bonuses etc), less tax wastage. It's all good. We're a slick machine in business operating terms, almost as slick as the manner of our football.

CL football will keep us happy and the chairman focused. For now, progress for the NDP is still lost in politics and posturing.

In amongst all the figures, worth also citing the obvious fact that the OS bid is dead. Dodo dead.

I'd rather Barton than Cole. Admit it, you would too...

Morning.

Okay, so what do I need to blog about today? The Judicial Review. Levy telling Chelsea 'to f**k off' re: Modric. Ade and Diarra practically done (for the 3rd week on the trot). Joe Cole. Hearts 'preview'. Being linked with Parker again. And Joey Barton. Here we go...

High Court drama

It would appear Levy was correct in fighting this with the judge yesterday granting us permission (along with Orient) for our application for a judicial review of the decision to give Olympic stadium to West Ham United. That's a review of the process leading up to the decision that saw us get spanked 14-0. The rather unfair process, that Levy won't let go of. Again, whether this is a case of us proving a point or attempting to claim back money spent or perhaps also gain as much leverage as possible - we don't know. As the chairman pointed out during the OS bid, there are certain things that have to be held back.

As one or two have already pointed out, its only leverage if nobody actually perceives it as that. So when is enough, enough?

Running parallel to this all day yesterday was the suggestion that the Mayor of London was in deep talks with the club relating to support for the NDP and the Tottenham area. What some expected was for Spurs to drop the court case and accept (finally) the money/deal/compromise that would be offered. But for now the 'game' continues.

One thing is for certain though. All of this does not look good for the Olympic Committee and the image of the games being held in England along with the fact that the recent riots (shown across the world) was hardly a great advertisement. N17 needs help. The Olympic Games do not need the adverse publicity. The NDP needs a helping hand.

It's still all very political and Machiavellian. It's still all bluffs and threats. We'll have to wait and see who stands down first.

Levy: You shall not pass

So via Harry (where else would you expect to hear it from?), Levy has instructed Chelsea to give up on Luka not bother with any more bids or pressure via media outlets as the player (as stated countless countless times) is simply not available and will not be sold. In other words, regardless of the cheap ITK headlines news feeds are polluted with from one day to the next, there has been no change in stance by chairman since his very first public announcement/statement.

Player might want to leave. Player might not be completely right in the head either. But as I've said before, Luka's head has not been right since it was turned during the start of the summer. He's obviously injured (carrying a knock) and that's being used as an escape to avoid first time action whilst he sulks and comes to terms with the fact he will have to pull on the Lilywhite shirt again.

Redknapp has probably had to tell him to get his sh*t together. Hence the 'his head aint right' comment.

I don't think he's on strike or even contemplating it. Also think Harry's comment was just Harry being not so articulate with his words as there was nothing much wrong with the rest of his comments when clearly stating 'he's not going to be sold'. He could have just stated Modric was injured and left it at that. We do not need to disclose everything from within the club. But then this is Redknapp we're talking about.

You might want Luka out for the disrespect he's shown to the shirt. I hardly want to hug the bloke myself. But my opinion still remains the same. Honour the contract. The club have to make sure he does just that. If a contract is simply a tool of insurance to gain as much transfer fee money as possible then here's some advice for footballers and their agents. Don't sign massive 6 year contracts and accept the money on offer.

Adebayor and Diarra

I still believe the Adebayor deal was 'done and dusted' a week or two back. Just formalities to be sorted. Just a gut feeling that Levy wants to bundle together all the signings and then reveal all (ooh) at a snazzy press conference. Ade was spotted and photographed with BAE, so there's no doubting he's back in London. The questions surround whether this will be a loan deal or a permanent one.

The other questions (this morning) concern Diarra. Yesterday the Madrid press said the deal was practically done. Now the player himself is saying he isn't moving.

"The information about my departure is a lie. There's no agreement with Tottenham and I don't think there will be"  - Diarra

Cheeky Arsenal bid? There is some logic in perhaps not worrying too much if he decided to reject us. One being the fact he tends to throw a hissy fit if not selected and when Sandro is fit, Sandro will be number one choice (at least you hope that's the case - I'm trying to ignore Harry's favouritism here).

Controversially, I'd just offer Joey Barton a contract. Non-believers, embrace Barton. I'd have him sitting in the middle of the pitch tweeting. He wouldn't even have to play football.

Yes. I did just say that. I've changed my mind on this. I'm easily influenced by Twitter. We need an absolute **** in the midfield to anger up the players and at times embarrass them into fighting rather than falling asleep on the ground sucking thumbs.

I did clearly say controversially, so stop screaming at your monitor.

I doubt West Ham would look to do business with us re: Parker. And to be honest, I dislike Parker more than I dislike Barton. Parker 'the Spurs fan' who rejected Spurs 2/3 times. Top bloke.

Having said all this, perhaps Diarra has simply been instructed to say what he has said. Either by agent or by Spurs. We'll find out soon enough. Tick tock tick tock.

Joe Cole

Don't be so f**king silly.

Breaking the Hearts of Scotland

Luka might play. In fact, the git should be forced to play if he's fit. We'll need someone in the middle to allow the game to flow and possession to be kept as Harry looks to start 'the yoof'. 

Enter...

Harry Kane. Goal getter.
Tom Carroll. Cultured versatile midfielder (deep-lying midfielder...the English Luka?)
Lewis Hamilton. Energetic winger.

Bookmark Windys blog for all the info you'll ever need on our kids.

Should be a good game, if anything, because Hearts will (should) offer a stern test (more so than what they offered up North) and look to reclaim some pride after their thrashing on home turf. And we finally get to see Kane, a big prospect, show us if he has the touch and maturity to perhaps feature in more games this season rather than just a cameo.

What does remain a massive positive is the fact that we are finally seeing some of these youth players break into first team action. Livermore at Old Trafford did himself proud. Townsend always looks bright, so Kane and Carroll...over to you. No pressure. Seriously, no pressure. If you're at the game this evening, sing up sing up. This is what it's about. Tottenham yoof coming through the academy and wearing the shirt.

Love it.

-

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Tweets from the High Court

Confusion and conspiracy still dominates Spurs and the High Court. The suggestion has been that we would drop the legal fight off the back of a promise (you would assume/guess/hope) from Boris Johnson to support Tottenham and the NDP, with Boris himself alluding to this, stating that it was 'very likely' we'd drop the case. A caveat best included here to highlight that plenty of reading between the lines is necessary.

The BBC firstly reported we'd be letting it go then updated their story to say it was still going ahead. Hence the confusion. The conspiracy part remains why Daniel Levy wishes to persist with it. Perhaps because we do in fact have a case? Or that the chairman wants to get money back spent on the premise that we were invited to bid in the first place only to then find ourselves nothing more than a chess piece. Or maybe the OS and this entire process is a chess piece Levy continues to move around the board, brining us back to the question of public funding.

Considering recent events in N17 and the state of the place post-riots, there is government pressure to act regardless.

Follow Don Roan on Twitter (@danroan) for updates from the court room. Below, the ones he's sent thus far.

Off to the High Court later for latest round of Spurs' legal fight over the Olympic Stadium - or am I? @BBCLdnOlympics
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14641254

On way to High Court as Spurs appeal against rejection of application for judicial review into decision to give 2012 stadium to West Ham...

..but could be end of road for Spurs if appeal rejected or their lawyers advise abandonment- If case heard will start at 10.30 - updates here

Spurs' QC Dinah Rose arrives at High Court. Suggests club's judicial review appeal into Olympic Stadium decision will go ahead at 10.30

Latest round of Spurs' & Orient's High Court fight v decision to award Olympic stadium to West Ham goes ahead despite last - minute talks

OPLC Ch Exec Andrew Altman in High Court to hear argument of Spurs QC Dinah Rose as club bids for judicial review into 2012 stadium decision

Spurs QC Dinah Rose says Newham loan to West Ham for Oly Stadium was a "distortion of competition" & decision in favour of WHam "unlawful"

So the Mayor says it looks 'very likely' that Spurs will drop legal challenge re stadium decision - it's going ahead right now in Court 2!

Spurs QC arguing that the £40m loan Newham granted WestHam for stadium wouldn't have been available via private bank & was thus "state-aid"

Spurs are effectively arguing that the Newham loan to West Ham constituted state-aid, & was therefore illegal under EU law

Interesting developments in High Court. Judge says Spurs' case is "arguable" (ie has some merit) and refers to "confusion" in Newham case

Adam Lewis QC for Leyton Orient (also seeking judicial review) say PL's decision to permit WH to leave Upton Park compromised by relegation

Judge asks Leyton Orient's QC what club's gate is and what league they play in. Justice Collins clearly not a regular at Brisbane Road

Despite their court hearing appearing to go well, Spurs talks with Mayor re agreement for them to drop legal fight in return for help on ...

...move to Northumberland Park stadium are progressing well - announcement unlikely today but possible.

Judge stresses if he allows judicial review "doesn't mean the case will succeed". Appears to be gearing up to find in favour of Spurs/Orient

To be clear best Spurs can hope for today is that the stadium decision subject to full hearing in future. Would mean uncertainty continuing

2012 stadium judicial review hearing rumbles on. OPLC's counsel Richard Gordon QC on his feet - says Spurs case is "baseless".

Regardless of result of hearing, today has done little for reputation of WestHam/Newham partnership - key to making 2012 stadium viable...

...and if Spurs/Orient do win it casts doubt on London's chance of winning right to host '17 World Athletics Champs, lots at stake in Court2

Breaking: Judge grants permission for Spurs/Orient application for judicial review of decision to give Olympic stadium to West Ham

News of the Weary

Anything happening out there? Any exclusives? No? What a shocker, hey? It's enough to leave you hacked off. There are just no Spurscentric headlines for us to embrace and stick our tongues down.

So what little news from the past few days?

I'm playing catch-up here, but let me see if I manage to round-up all of this weeks nail biting chitter chatter.

Mayor backs our RGF funding. Hopefully he's doing the same privately and working towards a truce with Levy. I'll scratch your back you kiss and lick mine. That's Boris licking Levy by the way. Don't picture it in your mind.

I warned you.

Woody finally released. Good luck to him. We obviously felt a pay-as-you-play deal would not have benefited player or club. Wondering how best it would work elsewhere. Was really impressed and surprised that he avoided injury when he first arrived at the Lane. The cherry on top of the cake was that winner against the blue scum in the cup final. Another fantastically gifted centre-half that we've been robbed of.

Luka back in training. Harry stopping off for a chat on his way out, still not convincing enough with the mic in his face. It's great, he's honest and truthful with the facts (no really he is) telling the SSN reporter (and the world) that Luka is confused. But you can still be honest without having to surrender complete transparency. Harry (unlike Levy) is still soundbiting the soundbites from a few weeks back about wanting to keep him, needing to keep him. Like there's still a possibility he could be sold. Am I asking for too much for the gaffer to echo the chairman, even if it means adding some spin? Be honest, just apply some diplomacy that works in OUR favour.

"He's back with his team mates, he trained well, we're all looking forward to the season".

If reporter asks a direct question about Luka's state of mind. Echo Levy.

"Yeah, he understands the clubs position. He's a professional, he's getting on with it".

Alas, no. Harry has to make sure Sky have enough fuel to add to the dying fire, to keep that last remaining flame alive by citing stuff like 'three of the top five would want to sign him' etc. We know that Harry, they know that...everyone knows it. Would be nice of he tried using 10 words instead of 200 every now and again.

Only good as the material Spurs give me, and at the moment it's the same thing every week. So if it seems like I'm having a dig at Harry all the time its because Harry is digging away at my sanity.

I think it's more than obvious Luka would prefer to be elsewhere. But that ship has sailed. It's done. It's over. There is no need for speculation and yet speculation is never quite taken out back and put out of it's misery.

In amongst it all, it was good to hear Harry state Luka has asked for more players to be signed (of his ilk, i.e. world class).

Very nice, but we're not going to be signing world class players because of Luka Modric. We're going to be signing them for THFC. Well, hopefully. That's the plan. I'm sure it is. Past few transfer windows have been practice runs. Promise.

Still, it's not just Harry and SSN that continue to 'believe'. Essien is injured so Modric is obviously the most likely replacement. That square peg fits into any circle.

What else have we got?

Robbie Keane might still have a chance to prove himself at Spurs according to Harry.

Okay, you know what, I want Redknapp gagged.

ITK's say the Anglo-Mexican (Antonio Michael Pedroza Whitham) has gone back to Mexico due to complications with his medical. I doubt this. Player said the deal was done, so I'll side with the player. Not that it will matter. Not a first team squad signing.

And that other lad rejected/released from Barca yoof (Ceballos) is once more being mentioned. Again, not a first team squad signing so I can't get excited about it.

That's it.

Almost. You might have (or might not have) seen the survey (sent via email) from Tottenham relating to corporate hospitality/premium seat packages. It's a follow-up to one sent out a long time back (pre-NDP implosion). There were some new mock-up images in the survey. If you were not randomly selected, click here and scroll down a little to view the pics.

COYS.

Follow me on Twitter because my ego needs to be validated.

How exactly does one manage to lose 14-0?

The more I read into this Olympic Stadium debacle the more apparent the screw-job becomes. Or perhaps the screw-job only exists from a THFC perspective. Which would mean you would have to disagree with some of or most of the below when taken into a context. Unless of course THFC always new the most likely outcome would be a West Ham recommendation. But then that would mean knowing that the process was never fair from the start and still persisting with it. 

Why bid? Why be invited to bid?

If the likely outcome was expected then the bid might have simply been made for leverage (in favour of the NDP) that would be birthed at the 'conclusion'...whenever that might be. The theory is, government plays into Levy's hand and 'shuts him up' by giving him what he desires. Any added bonus of suspended OPLC members and laughable statements from Brady and co would be a exactly that...a bonus.

The payment controversy might turn out to be nothing or the evidence inadmissible. Or it could do some heavyweight damage. Perhaps the prospect of such damage is damaging enough to find that amicable conclusion (i.e Levy wins by not actually winning what he set out to win). It's not exactly the type of  headlines everyone involved with the Olympic Games would want to be choking over during breakfast every other morning.

Not that I was in favour of a move away from N17, but regardless of my affiliations, I've collated the various soundbites whilst reading through hefty quantities of articles/threads and discussions on the subject.

Is anyone truly surprised? What government wants, government gets.

Here's the bullety points:

West Ham

- West Ham United, in debt to the tune of £100M (or so)
- Relegation on cards during process of OS bid
- £80M funds required for OS project to also retain stadium as Olympic legacy
- £40M handed to private sector business via a low interest loan from a fiscally poor Newham Council
- West Ham met the OPLC's financial criteria simply based on the loan from Newham Council
- If West Ham ever defaulted on loan, the debt would fall on the taxpayers of Newham
'Catastrophic' relegation achieved
- Championship West Ham United who could not pack out their smaller and current Premier League home will be entrusted to pack out a larger home possibly whilst still languishing in a league that isn't the top tier of English football
- The very same Championship side that have owners apparently paying out of their back pocket to sign Kevin Nolan's services for five-years, on an alleged 50k per week contract
- The very same Premier League rules relating to local territory used by West Ham to argue against Tottenham's proposed geographical shift from the North to the East were completely ignored by side-stepping the potential for Leyton Orient to suffer in terms of their fanbase catchment area*

*Tottenham have no right either, a case of 'who the f**k are Orient?' from everyone involved

The OPLC

- The OPLC clearly state post-decision the running track was an 'essential' element to the OS bid and hence why WH won it even though they encouraged Spurs to bid for the stadium, a bid that included no running track in the clubs plans post-Olympic games
- The OPLC clearly state post-decision that retaining the original stadium was an 'essential' element to the OS bid and hence why WH won it even though they encouraged Spurs to bid when they had made it clear they planned to demolish the original site and build a new purpose built football stadium in it's place
- Tessa Sanderson asked to step down from OPLC due to Newham Council affiliation
- Suggestions that various members of the decision committee had links with Newham Council
- THe OPLC/government never had any intentions of considering the Tottenham bid no matter the financial implications and relevance in terms of club statue and link up with AEG

Tottenham

- Financial secure bid and partnership (with AEG)
- Plans pencilled in for Crystal Palace guaranteeing a viable legacy that will offer only athletics all year round (although CP themselves opposed this for alternative plans of their own)
- Absolutely no ambiguity in terms of the plan for redeveloping the Olympic site
- Absolutely no 'doors closed' by OPLC during the duration of the bidding even though post-bid it has become apparent the details in Spurs plans do not match up with the post-decision clarity given for awarding it to West Ham

The decision and aftermath

- 14-0 in favour of the West Ham bid
- Levy pushes for judicial review of 'unfair process' leading to OS decision
- Judge rejects first hearing, suggests no point in pushing further
- Levy requests oral hearing, as per right to do so
- Allegations of corruption made relating to the OPLC decision and West Ham bid
- Alleged secret payments made to an employee of the OPLC
- A WHU Olympic director alleged arranged payments to be paid to the OPLC's director of Corporate Services
- Two further individuals were allegedly involved in a personal relationship
- West Ham United say payments were for consultancy work
- Vice-chair person Karren Brady fully aware of payments
- WHU Olympic director suspended
- OPLC employee suspended after all this transpired via the Sunday Times article that broke the story
- West Ham release statement, will take legal action
- Suggestion that Spurs tactics in hiring PR's to investigate corruption might be considered 'dirty' (although using dirty tactics to uncover dirty tactics should hardly be reason to turn away and dismiss out of hand)

Conclusions

- Mud-slinging in public in the lead up to the Olympics that the Government could do without
- The OPLC will not over-turn the decision
- The WH bid will not likely collapse regardless of relegation (which was planned as a potentiality)
- The OPLC along with the athletics community all supported the West Ham bid, preferring the idea of an iconic legacy to be used every so often rather than the Crystal Palace alternative
- Government, OPLC: only wanted a Spurs bid to aid towards guaranteeing a legacy and making sure West Ham adhered to all their blueprint
- A Spurs OS recommendation would hurt a bid for the athletics European Championships at the current OS site (rather than what Spurs suggested, Crystal Palace), a bid that needs to be submitted this summer. A bid that could possibly be effected by any continuing legal reviews pushed by Levy i.e. the next hearing
- Levy doesn't expect to get anything out of this other than the one thing he wants. Public funding for the NDP, re: RDF.
- Therefore; this is all to do with leverage
- Levy 'Machiavellian', reactively and otherwise

Obviously there is hearsay, suggestions, perspective and currently unproven allegations to consider but the stuff that's black and white and indisputable just confirms that the decision to award WH was one taken before Spurs even entered 'the race'. Politics, hey?

A Machiavellian migraine: Levy, the NDP and Stratford

Okay, so let me see if I have this right.

Northumberland Development Project is presented as a viable option to redevelop the surrounding area White Hart Lane currently sits on to build a stadium nearing 60k capacity.

Then, thanks to unforeseen (and failure to forecast) rising costs the viable NDP became not so viable as it was apparent to the fans via the club and the walls being built by local government (the only thing being built) stopping progression and leading us instead to a near fatal conclusion that it was now far too expensive - bordering on the crippling - and thus not feasible.

Out of nowhere, Stratford and the Olympic site became a priority. By 'out of nowhere' I mean it was always an option for the club and slowly slowly crawled into our future stadium landscape by becoming a 'backup plan' because business wise it made sense to show an interest, to then taking over as the plan.

Even though logistically in terms of borough and geography there was a suggestion the Premier League would frown upon a club moving into another clubs territory (West Ham's - not Orients, because nobody appears to give a sh*t about the Leyton team), with each passing day the club's stance became stronger and their commitment to the OS completely and unequivocally 100%.

The NDP was dead in the water. Legacy details of the dream eventually being removed from the club site. Why keep plans for a project that was not viable? Why keep plans for a project that would undermine the clubs push to claim the OS site? Tottenham had to be seen to be a one-stadium bidder - with no apparent 'second' option. The NDP had to be far removed from being tagged viable. No questions asked. Even if most of us scratched our heads at it's demise.

Local government aided Levy's argument and course of action. Although it's not as clear cut to some as it's easy to lay the blame with politicians (Haringey easy pickings at times for criticism, although it's worth remembering in the case of public sector funding, a rich football club asking for tax payers money can appear to be a tad cheeky, but not so when the project at hand is to regenerate the surrounding area).

For Levy, the board of directors and the shareholders - the OS made perfect business and fiscal sense in terms of saving the club up to or around £200M. From what we understand, we were invited to bid. Told we would stand a chance (I'm reading between the lines, but few would argue against the fact that someone lifted their skirt up to reveal crotchless panties...and it wasn't the porn barons from Upton Park. Neither was it Karren Brady, so you can all stop puking now).

Plenty of twists and turns played out. On paper, no doubting the fact Spurs had a far stronger far more fiscally powerful plan for the OS compared to the West Ham bid. Plenty of chat about the Olympic legacy - probably a political reason for Spurs being told to get involved, so that emphasis and pressure would be placed on the WH bid to include all the niceties certain interested parties would want to be safe-guarded. Like the ridiculous post-Olympic games running track.

West Ham win the bid (recommendation). 14-0. That's as comprehensive as you could possibly wish to hope for. Well, for pro-N17 supporters and most of West Ham's. Question here would be whether Levy genuinely felt we had a chance. You would think, with him being shrewd and immensely clever (they say that) he understood the probability of it going to WH would always remain the obvious outcome.

Perhaps, purely from a business perspective he had to make the bid for the OS and deal with any consequences in terms of fan disapproval. To him it would have been collateral damage. The club would have hit the ground running. Alas, 14-0 and ended.

So back to the drawing board. Since the decision, Levy has continue to appeal against it via a judicial review - rejected out of hand once, with a second hearing pencilled in. Reasons for the continued push is perhaps to reclaim some of the money spent by the club on the bid. Perhaps to prove a point that the process was unfair. Perhaps even to mould a negative into a positive for reasons of leverage. The Olympic committee would rather mud slinging not drag on into the summer and beyond. In addition an OPLC member with West Ham links has been suspended (and allegations of secret payments). Whether anything is proved to be relevant or damaging remains to be seen. But now it becomes that slightly more clearer why Levy has persisted.

Slowly slowly, the NDP begins to make its way back into the stadium landscape. Mentions of the club working hard to make it viable again. Mentions of other sites being looked for the sake of an alternative location. It's still not quite viable.

Which brings us onto the bid for a Regional Growth Fund. My understanding is that there's money in the pot. You make your case why you would deserve (let's say £100M) and why it would benefit more if the total sum is given to you rather than it being shared amongst various projects. A small cut of the total sum the club are going to ask for will probably not be as dramatic as the whole of the sum of money we would wish for. Which is why we might not be stepping back into that viable tag just yet.

But to even apply for a RGF - you can only ever hope to win if your project is deemed to be a non-starter in the first place. We are back to requesting help with the costs of the regeneration.

I guess perhaps the original plans and costs of the NDP way back, deep down, the club always knew it was not quite a feasible project and that mounting costs would push it beyond that. Hence the reason for the OS bid. We (Levy and co) had to prove to everyone they gave N17 a go - and it simply could not work to the point of it being boxed up and stored under 'never'. But if the OS bid failed, which it did, removing it from the box and re-introducing it whilst building up various pockets of momentum in terms of grants and pressures on the Mayor and friends...I can only go back to something I've always been desperate to cling onto even when I began to doubt it.

Levy = Machiavellian

We don't know every detail and we don't understand every decision because we're not meant too. Not clearly. Every move, every contingency if something doesn't go his way is mapped out. Given sometimes it's out of good fortune (RGF is a relatively new option).

Although that's not to say he's always pulling in the same direction we want to go. He's doing what he believes to be best for THFC. That, was at one point, Stratford. And had it worked (God forbid the West Ham bid ever collapsed) we'd be looking to move there. In the grand scheme of things, the chances of sharing those fourteen points was zero. I can't help wonder if he knew from the start that the only chance Spurs ever had of building a 60k all-seater was to generate money, support from the government meaning:

NDP - never truly viable from the offset (unforeseen costs were not unexpected and help from Haringey hardly viable in its self due to them having no available monies at any given time)

Stratford - never achievable in hindsight, but the clubs number one choice, and at one juncture 'someone' hinted and flirted with us that it could happen

Post-OS NDP - the only true option if the right level of cost support is there, and viable 'in time' now the OS is done and dusted by pushing the emphasis back on 'redevelopment', because it's about the area as much as it is about the club - which means the people obstructing previously might just wake up to the concept of holding our hand

There was never a contingency plan for the possibility of the NDP failing because its not the clubs intentions to allow it to fail. Might be fantasy on my part, having already made clear if the OS was given the go-ahead we'd be on our way. By virtue of losing out in the East End the contingency plan for the NDP has turned out to be the...NDP.

I always asked what would we do if the OS never existed? I'd hazard a guess that Levy would still have eventually deemed the NDP not viable to apply pressure to bring down costs anyway possible. Where we are now, is where we would have been in that scenario. Probably would have even flirted with the idea of leaving N17 too.

The RGF (information here and here if you want to read up on it) is simply a step in the right direction, one that looks perfectly natural with everything that's happened up to this point. We are talking about the NDP again. There might be another twist or turn around the corner, it's hard going attempting to second guess any of this because I'm sure someone will claim the RGF means very little in the long run - and that might be the case if we're awarded very little of it. We'll see how it all pans out.

Let's hope we bid for £100M and we get £100M. That's £100M to go towards investing in local people and the regeneration of the area to aid us with costs with the stadium. The crux of it will be whether we can prove the NDP can generate more jobs under the roof of redeveloping Tottenham than perhaps the money shared to a variety or projects could produce.

As for everything else I've mused, it's all just a theory. I'm sure there are holes in it. I'm sure you're going to point them out. More prevalent to the hear and now for most would be to consolidate on field progression so there's a team in full flow to match the ambitions of the redevelopment. No need for the Machiavellian here, just decisiveness of the swift variety.

All of us had our emotions pulled to the left and right whilst this has played out, questioning ethics and loyalty and what defined progression via revenue and the sacrifice of geographical history with the potential for a new chapter to be written elsewhere.

The pro-N17 people, screaming 'Say no to Stratford' at least wore their hearts on their sleeves. No different to the ones who simply accepted a move and supported it in their own way (can't really be that pro-active if you're supportive of moving). Just accept all at face value - i.e. Stratford is the only choice, let's get out of the sh*thole. Pro-move people simply tunnel visioned into the facts presented. NDP not viable, OS fiscal heaven. Far easier to accept it all than to jot something down on a bed sheet and wave it around outside White Hart Lane with ten mates keeping you company.

But then it was never about bed sheets was it? Or organised demonstrations. Some of the blog articles, the comments and and on-line discussions were far more powerful than the demonstrations could ever hope to be. Same in the stands and in the pubs. It was about the discussion and debate that unfolded with so much passion and fire, displaying how loyal all Spurs fans are no matter their opinion on the subject. Say no to Stratford, we are N17...it was more than just sound-bites and websites.

There were some that remained far more angry and belittling than others on the subject. Most agreed to disagree. Others anchored themselves to N17 no matter what, even though they had more to lose than those who did not mind moving.

In the end, we all want the same thing: THFC marching forwards. The ones that preferred only to do so without turning into a fully fledged franchise will have to unite with the ones that didn't even blink when the OS became 'available'.

I've already cited that business is business and it's more than obvious that Daniel Levy has to work diligently to safeguard the club (and the investment made). You don't really need me to point that out. The club will not be placed into a position of weakness financially. And the NDP - on the current costing - would do just that. But then it was always going to cost us.

I'm more than glad we are back to where we started this journey, still a long road ahead of us and this time no roads turning to the east. Tottenham is Tottenham no matter where the club plays it's football, some said. Well actually no, Tottenham is Tottenham in Tottenham.

Hopefully that's a reality we can all agree upon now. The supporters, the club and the local government who in-turn should embrace the potential of redevelopment in N17 to aid the area and the people who reside there along with the club.

Spurs have the key to the door. Lay down the welcoming mat, step aside and allow us to unlock it.

Will someone please think of the children?

The never ending story does what it says on the tin. Official club statement here.

Twitter reaction:

I think we have all lost track of it now. I guess he wants to be in court same time as 'Arry. Save on cab fares... @SpursSimon

are we really appealling the failed right to appeal? @Studub

Ref: OS appeal - doesn't mean decision will be overturned. Just means #thfc could be awarded compensation for unfair award process @RichSibley

Oh Daniel, you are starting to wind me the f**k up now. Maybe you should concentrate on a live striker instead of a dead duck @Bentleysbird

Rather tenacious our Mr Levy. Reminds me of an annoying Jack Russell, continually yapping & nipping at ankles @Coq_Au_Ginge

#Spurs' attitude to the Olympic Stadium is embarrassing, but not as embarrassing as the idea of W. Ham vs Barnet there in front of 2000 fans @daveeeeeed

#levy. We dont f**king want the stadium. The govt dont want us to have it. Pls just wipe your mouth of it before we dont want YOU #thfc @Rabbicrackers

F*ck the Olympic Stadium Levy! What we need is a statue of Michael Jackson outside White Hart Lane #COYS @aGrime

Join the chat: @Spooky23

Stratford's death still leaves us feeling White Hart Pain

So the High Court has refused our application for permission to bring a claim against the London Borough of Newham and the Olympic Park Legacy Company along with the Mayor of London and Government Ministers for the judicial review re: bid process for the OS.

What a guest list, would have been some party.

We await to see if Levy persists with this in the next few days (club can basically take an option to renew its application of complaint).

Vast majority (controversial?) of Spurs fans are probably more than happy to hear this news (happy and fed up) and hope the club, chairman and board of directors leave it in the past and move on with finding a true solution to the stadium issue. What's done is done. Right?

We've been told a few times by Levy that he can't reveal certain information due to the process at hand and from a business perspective, playing politics with local government can be a game of poker so he's hardly going to show us all of his cards. However, there has to be some transparency and based on the recent meeting between club and the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust it still sounds like we're walking through mud.

The NDP remains an expensive proposition, one without public sector funding. Which seems to be the excuse given (someone can remind me but I'm sure there's a fallacy surrounding Arsenal and the money they got for their stadium - i.e. they didn't).

In comparison (Stratford and the NDP) purely from a fiscal perspective (is there another perspective?) the OS was made priority because it would not have cost as much as remaining in N17 and in the long term was a far more achievable financial outgoing compared to the debt that will have accumulated with the NDP.

Business sense and shareholder gleefulness - Stratford was the answer. The other perspective? History of a geographical nature and various emotive arguments regarding identity. For most it was too much to ask and to see the club uproot and move from North London to the East. Progression off the back of increased revenue would secure the club's history even if we left our spiritual home, some said. Others preferred to remain anchored to the past and use that as the driving force to push on, remaining in N17, with an increased capacity.

There are arguments, good arguments for and against. But the one question that looks down at all of the in-fighting asks: Was it ever truly plausible for us to move to East London?

We've been over this a million times, so I wont lose myself in another rant. I will share a couple of thoughts off the back of the latest club statement.

Was the NDP ever viable? The reason I ask is, considering the business acumen of our chairman and the fact that forecasting every conceivable scenario would have been discussed in terms of the potentiality of increasing costs - why present the NDP as a viable project in the first place? Perhaps this is naivety on my part. I can appreciate that the NDP 'on paper' worked until it drowned in various red tape and outgoings once it began it's stuttering journey.

The more Stratford hogged the limelight, the less feasible the NDP became.

Stratford first appeared as a backup plan, then became our first choice (but there were mentions of it long before the NDP - the suggestion being it was always the clubs first choice). All guns blazing we went. Even though there were FA Premier League issues (ignored in the case of Orient post-decision) relating to boundaries and territory. Even if us bidding for it was (amongst the people locally and back in Tottenham) a non-starter - to Levy and from what we are made to believe certain people involved in the OS stadium process of selection and the Mayor - it was very much a competitive bid. One that stood a chance.

On paper, miles and miles ahead of West Ham's and in long term financial gain, utterly no competition when comparing the two clubs. The voting appeared to suggest that Tottenham never stood a chance. Hence the complaints made by club.

The crux of it falls on Daniel Levy. Here's me banging on about Machiavellian strategy and playing people off each other for our own gains, and yet looking back our hard nosed negotiator wore his heart on his sleeve. He was pro-Tottenham the club, the brand...and pro-Stratford to aid with elevating us to the next level of financial clout and stability. The sacrifice (the emotive stuff) worth while.

Did he genuinely believe we had a chance? Or did he expect to be p*ssing in the wind, all part of the game plan? Was the NDP only ever presented to us to appease the masses? Or is it still the ideal solution but one that simply isn't probable any more due to the constraints placed upon it?
 
Wouldn't moving to a different part of North London (or wherever else) equally see us battling against rising costs and political chess? As noted in the dismissal of the Tottenham Hale site.

Can't argue against Levy not wanting the best for the club. But that transparency, that direction...it's hard to know what we are concentrating on if we continue with our OS complaints whilst walking into brick walls that need to be knocked down first.

Perhaps everything that has played out has not been to his surprise. Although I can't quite grasp how any of it acts as a leverage towards the the NDP. But then I'm not a chairman of a football club and managing director of an investment company.

From the meeting with the THST:

“The Club is very busy behind the scenes trying to make the NDP viable”

If the OS never existed, what would our contingency plan be if the NDP went from viable to not being viable? Because that's where we currently stand at the moment.

It was never do or die for Stratford. Yet I can't shake off that feeling that some believe it to be the case.

In Tottenham we trust

My head is pounding, gut churning. You know how it is with man-flu. Fathers amongst you will appreciate that in the first year or so of having a baby you tend to pick up any cold/virus they pick up. Probably a lack of vitamin c on my part, but I appear to be sick without fail every 5-6 weeks. Or perhaps I’m not sick from a bog standard bug and the baby is just a patsy. Perhaps I’m just depressed and I don’t know it.

Lack of summer sun, lack of summer transfer activity.

Sure, we’ve had the Modric saga slapped down like rolled up newspaper squashing a fly. Luka supposedly said what he said. Levy responded and closed the matter. Whispers of a possible statement from the Croatian, but nothing yet. Perhaps there’s no point in one although it would silence the vultures of the press if he came out and said something pro-Tottenham – ending any further sequels to the first episode of discontent.

New kits out. Love ‘em, hate ‘em. Seems like there’s an unwritten rule which must state something like: We shall not release the perfect kit, instead we’ll retain some imperfections with random streaks of yellow just to make it look like some thought went into it. Sponsor pays money, sponsor has right to include their logo on kit, but would be nice if both sponsor and club found a middle ground where they would share a celebratory drink with style. Style, for the record, does not include yellow or a bold font.

Then there’s the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust. You know who they are, right? Quite a few of you do but it’s always up to someone else to remind you, to give you a poke of encouragement to take a look when you’d have probably missed it altogether.

I had no idea they meet with the club on the 14/06/11. I missed a tweet earlier this afternoon that would have linked me to the minutes made live on their site today and only found out about it because someone gratefully left a comment on my blog. Considering the questions asked and the answers given, its information that should be far more reaching. You know, neon lights and not a candle in the wind.

Blogged earlier here highlighting some of the minute but now I have some available time to run through a couple of things that stand out for me.

If you’re on Twitter, follow @SpursFuture for the latest on the stadium developments. Their website is here. Look out for some news they plan to share tomorrow.

Stadium

“The Club is very busy behind the scenes trying to make the NDP viable”

Pretty much what appears to be a very positive message given in the meeting. Either that or a PR friendly ‘we’ve not dismissed the idea of the NDP’. The issue still remains one concerning public sector grants. The project still weighs in at around £250M - £300M leaving it with that not viable tag currently.

You do have to wonder what the committee discuss every week when it's obvious nothing changes from one to the next.

Have we looked elsewhere? Yes. But the land near Tottenham Hale is equally not viable due to the expense of purchasing it and countless surveys and God knows how much more time would have to be spent on proposing design, affect on the surrounding area etc etc.

We appear to be stuck in limbo in terms of direction. The club are at least investigating an increase in any proposed capacity (along with market research for corporate hospitality) but no movement (as you would expect) on naming rights and the supermarket deal. No stadium means we can hardly have a sponsored name for it.

As for the Olympic Stadium shambles, the legal challenge is in process. End of July is when Levy and co will find out the result of their complaint. I guess this is the back-up plan, be it one rooted deep in fantasy (if Levy honestly thinks he’ll get anything over-turned he’s mad). Then again, it’s not about over-turning a decision, you would think it’s more about making a point in how the decision (recommendation) was made.

The point being, we (the club) we’re used to force the reattainment of the running track and the OS legacy via the publicity of our bid in comparison to the one made by West Ham United. Considering how voting went, it was a blatant stitch up. Not that I have any complaints about it. Say no to Stratford all day long. But from the minutes the following leaves me a little cold: “Uncertainty remains that NDP will ever become viable”.

Add that quote with the following: “DL advised that he has no preference re stadium he just wants a stadium solution whatever that may be” – and we are back to the question of geography and history against revenue and progression.

There’s no time-frame on any of this, which makes me question the whole premise of the NDP and it's contingency plans that would have been in the original discussions the club had when outlining the ground redevelopment. To quote the past, if the OS never existed, if the games were to be played in France next year...thus no OS...where would we be looking towards now?

Club suggests we lobby DL David Lammy, Boris Johnson, the Sports Minister and the Local Authority 'to constructively point out the benefits that would accrue to the local community from providing some Public Sector grant support to the stadium project'.

Game of tennis.

Transfers

Nothing we don’t know already. We need to ‘trim the existing first team’. No sh*t Sherlock. We’ve got enough deadwood to reconstruct the Great Fire of London. Get the impression Danny boy is always looking to make a profit on a player bought and then sold on. Which might see us getting unstuck with one or two turning away at the thought of paying what our valuation is for the likes of say, Robbie Keane or Wilson Palacios. Selling players who no longer fit into our plans will also aid with the wage bill.

‘There will be activity this summer’.

Set your watches for the final ten minutes on the last day of the transfer window. No, hold up don't fret, it’s just how it all works. Deals only kick-off in domino fashion when everyone gets desperate as time runs out. Levy states he understands why there is a perception but it’s not deliberate.

Phew. I was going to suggest we only have a transfer window of 2 days in the middle of the summer for all clubs to do their deals in. It will be akin to Wall Street with loads of chairman waving their hands around in the air screaming and shouting. Robbie Keane will no doubt be in the thick of it, signing for at least seven boyhood clubs who would share him across the course of a season.

Levy cites wish lists and clubs working through them. Perhaps it’s best to just cross out the ones that are unlikely or just start from the bottom up. Unless Carlton Cole is at the bottom of said list. Let’s be fair, I don’t think it’s an easy job to do. As long as we do have a wish list and we aim to work through it with urgency. Problem can usually sit with the opposing club who might want to hold off for a bigger fee. That’s not to say I will be forgiving if we don’t sign what we need to sign this summer. Have to be decisive.

Interestingly, the manager puts forward recommendations for players and the chairman and board of directors discuss taking into account long term financial implications. Actually, that’s not that interesting. It’s quite traditional. Although obviously Levy does a bit of work on the side (i.e. van der Vaart).

The hypothetical situation outlined (during the meeting) in terms of when the chairman/directors would say no to a proposed deal relates to a big fee for a 30+ player with little chance of re-sale or the possibility of a new manager taking over during the player’s contract who might not see the player as part of his squad.

Hypothetical or perhaps a clue to our not so far off future? I would hope the club look at certain potential players on merit of ability/experience and what they could offer in the way of leadership and that galvanising touch. Now say signing Scott Parker for £8M-£10M would fall into the ‘just say no’ category due to his age and the fact that Harry will probably not be Spurs manager beyond the 2012 season. It’s logical not to splash out such a sum on a player that wouldn’t even be first choice at Spurs (my two cents). But say, just for the hell of it, Drogba was available for £3M-£5M...would that not be a worthwhile investment? You wouldn’t get any money back on re-sell but you’d make your money back on another CL placement. No? That's the risk, gotta speculate to accumulate.

Finally, academy players. Lack of. Club are aware improvements are needed. Caulker gets a special mention, as many of us already hope he will be a special player for us in the future. We need more of this.

Harry and the Press

Brilliant side-stepping here. Harry calling fans idiots, accepted by the club as an inappropriate comment to make but it’s the fault of Sky Sports thus, mitigating circumstances, that Harry was given a leading question to answer. We’ve apparently spoken to Sky about this.

Harry loves the media, media loves Harry. Always the potential for the good and bad. Perhaps if Harry limited himself to only, say, 400 interviews a day...he wouldn’t slip up too often.

Shame the Trust didn’t ask why Harry persists with the disassociation (it’s always ‘them’ never ‘us’). I’m being petty now. We all know his only priority is to himself. I hardly care as long as he produces the goods next season.

Finance

We didn’t make as such from the CL as other English clubs due to the limited stadium capacity and restricted corporate hospitality. All links into the search for a NDP solution or a potential agreeable move to a new location that won’t fragment support. Although chairman is simply looking at the club as an entity, a brand and all that matters is that 60k capacity and plenty of boxes for the rich to swim in tubs of caviar whilst drinking unicorn blood from diamond encrusted skulls of baby seals. Because he knows in the CL (gotta get back there) we would sell out and the revenue would make us richer. If we’re 14^th now in the world (last time I looked) then it’s scary to think how strong we’d be with a new stadium.

But then, call me soft, call me a romantic...I’d rather it be just under 60K and built in N17. Tottenham is Tottenham after all. Sorry, I want my cake and I want to eat it.

Kit and Sponsorship

Reason for delay in release of kits? To coincide with the shirt sponsors launch of a new product. I honestly don’t think anyone is going to care about the launch of the shirt sponsors new product. Do football fans really take note of what's on a kit other than the badge? I know advertising is just that but I didn't spend the 80s painting the walls because Liverpool were always on tv drunk on Holsten.

Under Armour from next season replacing Puma. Five year contract. Let’s pray they don’t include the random yellow streaks in their début kits.

That’s as much as I can muster.

Join me on Twitter because that's where I live.

"There will be activity this summer"

Click here for the full minutes of the meeting between the club and the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust.

Covers off questions around the Stadium, transfers, Harry and the press, ticketing, finance, fair play rules, kit and sponsorship and some other bits and pieces.

Stadium

• The Club is very busy behind the scenes trying to make the NDP viable. There are two dedicated people working 24/7on the stadium project and a committee of 15 meets weekly to discuss progress. The Club is seeking public sector grants to help reduce the costs and in light of this has appointed Savills to explore this avenue.

• The Club is carrying out market research to ascertain what the appetite for corporate hospitality is as well as considering a moderate increase in capacity.

• At the same time the legal challenge regarding the Olympic Stadium bid process continues. The club should know the results of their challenge by the end of July. There are two reasons for this; (i) Uncertainty remains that NDP will ever become viable and (ii) Genuine concern that the bidding process was unfair.

• With regards to other Haringey locations DL confirmed that a site near Tottenham Hale was considered but, due to the amount of property that would need acquiring, this would have been extremely time consuming and in all likelihood just as expensive as NDP with a further need for seeking planning permission from the local authorities.

• With a capital cost of £250-£300m it is just not viable right now.

• Re funding, the Club has not gone to Market yet re Naming Rights and the Supermarket deal is on hold.

• The Section 106 agreement has been agreed but is not yet exchanged.

• Ultimately, despite the huge investment this would be from THFC in the local community, there is no public sector money being made available.

• No timeframe can be put on how long this may take to resolve one way or the other.

• BK asked what supporters can do to assist THFC? DL advised that it would be beneficial for THFC supporters to lobby David Lammy, Boris Johnson, the Sports Minister and the Local Authority to constructively point out the benefits that would accrue to the local community from providing some Public Sector grant support to the stadium project. Ultimately this should be a Private/Public Sector project so all pressure exerted on the decision makers would be very welcome.

• DL advised that he has no preference re stadium he just wants a stadium solution whatever that may be.



Transfers

• The club has to trim the existing First Team squad as only 25 players are allowed excluding home grown Under-21’s who don’t count towards the 25.

• There will be activity this summer but the club does need to sell players for the above reason.

• DH asked if it was a deliberate tactic to wait until the end of the window before any intense activity? DL said he understood why there was this perception but this was far from deliberate, it was just the way the transfer market worked with buying clubs having their 1-10 wish lists and the fact it takes time to work this through.

• The Manager puts forward recommendations for purchases and the Board of Directors have the final decision taking into account the long term financial implications for the Club. For example, a hypothetical situation where the Board would need to say No would be where the selling club is seeking a sizeable transfer fee for a 30+ year old with little chance of re-sale and/or the possibility of a different manager appearing during that player’s contract who didn’t see that player as part of his squad.

• The lack of home grown players was raised by John Morrow. DL agreed that academy produced players needed to improve. S. Caulker is a very promising academy resource right now.



Harry and the Press

• The subject of Harry’s public criticism of some THFC fans as idiots was raised as an inappropriate comment to make. This was accepted by the Club however mitigating circumstances of a leading question from the Sky reporter was raised and the fact that the club had spoken to Sky about this.

• It was agreed that Harry had an incredible relationship with the media (They like him/He likes to speak with them) and that with this there would be some positives and negatives.

Discuss amongst yourselves. There's a few things that really stand out. It's worth reading the full set of minutes. I'll revisit most of it again in more detail when I get a moments chance.

You have got to be ******* kidding me

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12909326

Tottenham Hotspur are taking Olympic chiefs to court over the decision to hand the 2012 stadium to West Ham after the Games, the BBC has learned.

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), which chose West Ham ahead of Spurs last month, confirmed Tottenham are going ahead with a judicial review.

Tottenham informed the OPLC of its decision this week, as construction on the Olympic Stadium was completed.

A judge will now review the lawfulness of the decision.

More follows.

Official club statement here. A slight twist. Looks like Levy is flirting again.

At this stage the Club has not issued any proceedings against the Olympic Park Legacy Company (the OPLC) or any other party in respect of the decision regarding the award of the Olympic Stadium. 

The Club’s lawyers have written letters to the OPLC, the Mayor of London, the Minister of Sport and the Secretary of State for Local Government and a separate letter to the London Borough of Newham raising a number of concerns with the processes which led to the award. 

The letters also requested - in the interests of transparency - for the provision of certain information concerning the processes, which the Club considers that it is entitled to. Tottenham Hotspur will determine its next step as and when it receives a response to these letters.

Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in...