AliousTottenham chief executive Vinai Venkatesham appeared to criticise the way the club was run under former chairman Daniel Levy during a meeting with the club’s Fan Advisory Board.
Venkatesham, who joined Tottenham in April after spending 14 years with fierce rivals Arsenal, suggested that the club had not placed enough focus on success on the pitch during Levy’s leadership. He also warned that the club may need to place greater emphasis on selling players in the future.
The Tottenham CEO acknowledged that “significant change” is required after an internal review of both the men’s and women’s teams.
His remarks come after Levy stepped down from his role in September following nearly 25 years at Tottenham Hotspur, where he had served as both chairman and chief executive.
Levy was often viewed as a divisive figure during his tenure, frequently criticised for focusing more on the business side of the club than on footballing success. However, he did oversee Tottenham’s first trophy since 2008 when the club won the UEFA Europa League final last May.
Despite a promising start under manager Thomas Frank, Spurs’ domestic campaign has turned into a nightmare. The team currently sit just one point above the relegation zone, with interim boss Igor Tudor losing all four matches since taking charge.
Members of the Fan Advisory Board also raised concerns about a growing lack of trust among supporters regarding the club’s direction. Meanwhile, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) demanded “emergency action” following Tottenham’s heavy 5–2 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League earlier this week.
In an effort to reassure fans, Venkatesham indicated that the club has scrapped its previous wage structure. He stressed that everyone at Tottenham now understands that on-field success must be the club’s top priority.
According to minutes published by the club, Venkatesham said that since arriving in June 2025 he has carried out a thorough review of the organisation to identify problems and determine what changes are needed.
He explained that while he had formed opinions about the club from the outside, working within the organisation gave him a clearer picture of its strengths, weaknesses and the steps required to improve.
The review found that Tottenham had made strong progress in areas such as stadium development, training facilities, commercial growth and matchday operations. However, several key areas were judged to be below the standard required to compete consistently at the highest level.
Among the concerns highlighted were the club’s wage structure and its approach to player transfers, both of which were seen as factors that have hindered Tottenham’s ability to compete effectively in the market.
Venkatesham also addressed the club’s financial situation, warning that Tottenham must remain careful not to breach Financial Fair Play rules after posting losses for four consecutive years.
The meeting minutes noted that the club’s financial losses mean compliance with FFP regulations must be carefully monitored. As a result, Tottenham are likely to place greater emphasis on player sales while continuing to grow revenue in order to create room for future investment.
While Venkatesham’s comments appeared to criticise Levy’s previous leadership, both he and sporting director Johan Lange are also facing scrutiny for appointing Tudor as interim manager.
So far, the Croatian has struggled badly, failing to inspire the team. Tottenham are still without a league win in 2026 and their poor run of form has left them dangerously close to relegation.
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