The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) says it has written to the club’s board to seek responses “to the fundamental questions that fans want answered” amid what it described as “genuine concerns about the situation at Spurs and the direction of the Club”.
THST posed four questions to the club on (1) the “medium and long-term strategy for success”; (2) how head coach Antonio Conte’s recent comments about the need for spending “align with the board’s philosophy”; (3) whether they are happy with recent recruitment and youth development; (4) and plans for further investment.
Spurs are fifth in the table, two points outside the top four, and have won just three of their previous eight matches, either side of the World Cup break.
Fans chanted for chairman Daniel Levy to go in the last two matches, a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa on New Year’s Day and Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Crystal Palace.
On the eve of the game at Selhurst Park, Conte revealed his “challenge” is not to win the Premier League or Champions League this season but to build a “solid foundation” for future success, and has said to become title contenders the club will need to establish a base and then invest in two players worth “£50m, £60m, £70m” every season.
Conte is under contract until the end of the season, with a club option to extend his deal by a further 12 months, but he has consistently threatened to walk away if Spurs do not match his ambition.
In its letter to the club, THST, which changed leadership over the summer, asked the following:
“1) Will the club share its medium and long-term strategy for success, both on and off the pitch? How is the club measuring progress and how does it judge current outcomes against those expectations.
“2) The manager employed by the Club has not signed a new contract and tells us we should lower our expectations about on-field outcomes. He has said publicly that the club needs to spend big money every window just to compete. How does this align with the Board’s philosophy for achieving success?
“3) Are you satisfied with player recruitment in recent transfer windows and with the performance of the youth teams and development and supply of younger players through to the first team? Are there any plans to improve this?
“4) Does the Club have a plan for further investment to ensure the Club remains competitive on the pitch in the face of substantial additional investment by other Premier League clubs. Is the Club closer to securing a [stadium] naming rights provider? Is there plans from further investment from ENIC or other potential investors or buyers?”
Owners ENIC injected a £150million into the club in an unprecedented move over the summer, with Spurs having since signed Richarlison for £60m and Cristian Romero for £50m, among other players.
Spurs are preparing for Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie against Portsmouth and a Champions League last-16 tie against AC Milan next month after a strong finish to last season under Conte.
