Tottenham insist club is not for sale

Tottenham Hotspur have denied a report claiming their owner Joe Lewis has put the club up for sale.

A newspaper report said Lewis, who bought the club 13 years ago for €27.65m (£22m), was looking for investors willing to pay a €1.25bn (£1bn) price, but Spurs insist there are no plans to change ownership. The club said its current commercial priority was developing a new stadium at White Hart Lane.

A club statement read: “Contrary to recent press speculation, neither the club, nor its majority shareholder, are in any takeover discussions and the focus of the club is fully on delivering the new stadium project.

“Accordingly, we are at a stage where we are starting to engage with a number of financing institutions and potential funders in respect of the new stadium development project.”

Spurs intend to have a new stadium on the current site ready for the 2018-19 season and will have to play the previous season away from White Hart Lane. Suggested alternative venues include Wembley, Stadium MK and even Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

"Every single decision that the club makes is to improve the club and give better solutions or facilities to our supporters," their manager Mauricio Pochettino said. "So I always back these decisions."

Guardian Service