Levy’s ready to wage war
BUT TOTTENHAM’S CHIEF SHOOTS HIMSELF IN FOOT
THE statement was word perfect. It is just the numbers that do not add up.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy took a rare break from his cherished anonymity to deliver a lecture football needed to hear.
Mainly, he lectured his own players – and those playing with other clubs – to wake up to their responsibilities as the highly paid heroes of the suffering masses. But that was just the beginning. He told football at large not to behave like a law unto itself.
He asked the sponsors and broadcasters to stay patient and let things settle down before making any strategic decisions.
And he told the media not to be obsessed with where Harry Kane might be heading in the near future.
In a heart-felt statement released on the club’s website, he said: “When I read or hear stories about player transfers this summer like nothing has happened, people need to wake up to the enormity of what is happening around us.
“With over 786,000 infected, nearly 38,000 deaths and large segments of the world in lockdown, we need to realise that football can’t operate in a bubble.
“This virus has no boundaries. The club’s operations have effectively ceased, some of our fans will have lost their jobs and most will be worried about their future. Our sponsors will be concerned about their businesses and our media partners have no certainty when we may play games again.
“We have seen some of the biggest clubs in the world reduce their costs. Yesterday we ourselves made the difficult decision – in order to protect jobs – to reduce the remuneration of all 550 non-playing directors and employees for April and May by 20 per cent.
“We hope the discussions between the Premier League, PFA and LMA will result in players and coaches doing their bit for the football ecosystem.”
But in a separate statement, Spurs revealed their accounts for the year. Levy’s salary had gone up from £3million to £4m and he had pocketed a
£3m bonus for getting the stadium finished at the ninth time of asking. Yet here he was, cutting his employees’ pay and asking the Government to help with the shortfall. A remarkable PR gaffe for somebody who has so few public relations.
At least Levy is taking his own 20 per cent hit. His players are being guided by the highest-paid trade unionist in the country, Gordon Taylor, who football does not seem able to shake away.
The PFA chief executive said: “We don’t want anyone taking advantage of this crisis.”
Which brings us nicely to agents, who took £260m out of the Premier League in the past year. What will they be saying to their clients?
“I have no doubt we will get through this crisis but life will take some time to get back to normal,” added Levy. “I hope we will never take for granted so many basic things such as getting off the train at Seven Sisters, walking along Tottenham High Road, entering our stadium with our family and friends, and buying a beer and pie ahead of watching Spurs play.”
It is a romantic vision, but one which nobody seems willing to pay for.
We’ve made the difficult decision to protect jobs