Muhammad Awwal AbubakarBritish financier and businesswoman Amanda Staveley has £500 million ready to invest in Tottenham Hotspur amid ongoing takeover rumour, but she may not seem like the best partner for the club chairman Daniel Levy.
Staveley wants to be directly involved with the club activities, similar to her role at Newcastle United, where she played a key part in daily decisions.
However, Levy’s strong control over Tottenham raises questions about how much influence Staveley could actually have.
Many analysts believe Levy’s £3.5 billion valuation of Tottenham is too high, making it difficult for Staveley to buy a minority share from the club firm.
Plus, the current unstable rules in football could impact how much Spurs’ majority owners, ENIC, could ask for.
To understand the situation better, TBR Football talked to Kieran Maguire, a football finance lecturer at Liverpool University. He pointed out that fans are upset about rising ticket prices and a new organised pricing system.
Fans already contribute £118 million in matchday income every year, so this change has triggered anger among football enthusiast and spectators.
In response to new developments, the UK government has proposed a bill for an independent football regulator that would require clubs to communicate with fans about ticket prices.
However, Maguire noted that this doesn’t give fans the power to block price changes; it simply starts a consultation process. He said, “There isn’t a doubt or rejection here. It’s about engaging with fans. Clubs still need to make business decisions.”
Maguire emphasized that while fan feedback and response is important, it doesn’t change the commercial nature of clubs.
He mentioned that past fan pressure has led to positive changes in the football community, such as pricing for disabled supporters.
Maguire also compared rising beer prices to player wages over the years. He said, “In 1987, a pint was 92 pence. If it had increased like player wages, it would be £100.83.”
This highlights financial issues in football and raises concerns about sustainability and financing in football.
Regarding Staveley’s goals, she reportedly wants a minority stake in Spurs but eventually hopes for a full takeover of the club.
However, Spurs current chairman Dani Levy is not eager to give up full control of his beloved club. Maguire stated that Levy is committed to winning trophies and is in no rush to sell the club as the situation stands.
Maguire remarked that, “Levy is a Spurs fan and wants success. He’ll only feel validated when Spurs win a trophy.”
Upcoming changes to Premier League spending rules also affect potential deals. The league plans to limit spending on wages, transfers, and agent fees to 85% of revenue starting next season.
Additionally, a new system will tie spending limits to a multiple of the lowest club’s TV revenue for each club.
Nick De Marco, a sports lawyer, has questioned whether this system will effectively cap salaries. Historically, Spurs have supported stricter spending rules, which could help them limit their competitors’ financial power expecially competitors from fellow Premier League clubs.
Maguire explained that Spurs could be major beneficiaries from these new rules, saying, “Under a five times multiple, Spurs could spend an extra £198 million without breaking the rules.” This would give them an advantage over clubs like Manchester City and Newcastle United that rely on high commercial revenue.
He added that Spurs have more financial flexibility compared to other clubs that might need to sell players due to past losses and overdraft spending. “Spurs have lots of room to maneuver, which gives them flexibility,” he said.
Muhammad Awwal Abubakar
