Tottenham are facing an angry backlash from fans who are questioning the “direction of the club.”
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust (THST) says it has written to the board seeking responses to “genuine concerns.” It comes just days after Tottenham fans chanted: “Daniel Levy - get out of our club” at the chairman and manager Antonio Conte warned he cannot compete with big-spending Premier League rivals.
In its letter to the club, THST, asked four key questions and wrote:
"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? Are there plans for further investment from ENIC or other potential investors or buyers?”
Tottenham have an option to extend Conte’s contract by 12 months this summer but would not exercise it unless he wants to stay in charge.
But Tottenham did back the manager last summer after a new share issue which helped pay for a big spending spree, including £60m forward Richarlison.
Meanwhile, Antonio Conte has revealed he is against the idea of sending his young Tottenham talent out on loan during the January transfer window.
Spurs host Portsmouth in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday before taking on Premier League leaders Arsenal the following weekend, one month out from their Champions League last-16 first-leg trip to AC Milan.
Oliver Skipp, 22, started in place of the suspended Yves Bissouma in Spurs’ 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, while 21-year-old winger Bryan Gil was awarded his second Premier League start after making his first against Villa on New Year’s Day.
Boss Conte said: “Skipp and (substitute Pape) Sarr showed they are really reliable players for me and I’m really happy. We exploited the period of the World Cup to work with these young players to improve themselves under the tactical aspect and physical aspect.
“Now they stay with us in the squad. I don’t want to send these young players on loan because the league is very difficult. We have to play Champions League, we have to play FA Cup. I think these young players can stay here to help us face these three competitions.”
Conte was also thrilled by Bryan Gil's contribution in the thrashing of Palace. He said: “We are talking about a player who was born to play football. He understands football quickly. He’s so clever, so intelligent to understand the situation."
