As one of the ‘Big Six’ clubs in England who signed up for the European Super League, Tottenham have burnt bridges with many fans. Some say they will never return, others say they are done investing in the club until new ownership and direction arrives. Well, some of those threats might have paved the way for the potential change in scope that has arrived at Spurs. There has been an announcement from the club suggesting that they will commit to starting up a Club Advisory Panel which will be made up of fans.
This would give Tottenham fans the chance to get a seat on the board and to take part in the representation of fellow fans. However, despite saying they “wholeheartedly regret” the ESL move, some fans believe this would be a PR move to try and placate fans. Concerns, though, exist around how much say the fans would actually have. Would their vote matter? Would they even have a vote when it comes to key decisions?
All of these factors are sure to create an interesting discussion regarding what Spurs fans can expect. In a club statement, though, they made clear that they believe this could be a step in the right direction towards total long-term reconciliation.
What did the club say about the Club Advisory Panel?
In a new statement from the Spurs board, the club announced: “We have seen football fans around the world come together to show their strength of feeling regarding the future of the game we all feel so passionately about, with strong views expressed on the proposed establishment of a new European Super League (ESL).
It’s important to underline that we entered the ESL with the expectation that the format, rules and structures would evolve through dialogue with key parties, namely the Premier League, FA, UEFA, FIFA and, crucially, fans. It should never have been conveyed with certainty when it was in fact a framework agreement for consultation going forward.
We should have challenged and reconsidered the annual access system. We wholeheartedly regret that we involved the Club and that the legal process itself meant we were unable to consult our fans early on – we apologise unreservedly.
We have all learnt lessons from recent events and have reviewed fan engagement as a priority. As a result we shall be liaising with key stakeholders and establishing a Club Advisory Panel, comprised of elected representatives from the different constituencies of our fanbase, inclusive and reflective of our fans’ diversity. The Chair of this Panel will be appointed annually as a full Non-Executive of the Club Board. We believe this provides for authentic, genuine representation and will ensure fans are at the heart of Club decision-making, something we greatly welcome.
The selection criteria, mandate and constitution will be developed by independent advisors in consultation with fan groups to ensure it is truly representative of our supporter base. Further details will be released in due course. Going forward we shall constantly look to review and improve these new lines of consultation. We shall also fully support the government review into football governance.”
Crucially, the mention of a fans representative also came with a parting shot at the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust, or THST. In the statement, the club added: “We are disappointed that the Board of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) has not yet met with the Club. The THST, with whom we have worked and, indeed, promoted, for 20 years has called for the resignations of the Executive Board over the ESL – individuals who have lived and breathed this Club for the best part of two decades. We have offered on several occasions to meet Board-to-Board and discuss an open agenda – excluding a change of Club ownership and the resignation of the Board. Our door remains open on this basis.”
For now, then, there appears to be a lot of fracture within the way that Spurs and their supporters see one another. Expect more discussions in the future, as both fans and club try to find common ground. For now, though, the arrival of a CAP would offer something to help get fans – some fans – back onside with the way the club is being run.
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