The real reason Daniel Levy has left Tottenham

Daniel Levy and Tottenham have parted ways (Picture: Getty)

A new era for Tottenham starts on Friday after the shock and sudden departure of long-serving chairman Daniel Levy.

Levy vacated his role with immediate effect on Thursday having been at the helm for almost 25 years and was the longest-serving chairman in the Premier League.

‘I am incredibly proud of the work I have done together with the executive team and all our employees,’ Levy said on the club website.

‘We have built this club into a global heavyweight competing at the highest level, more than that, we have built a community.

‘I was lucky enough to work with some of the greatest people in this sport, from the team at Lilywhite House and Hotspur Way to all the players and managers over the years.

‘I wish to thank all the fans that have supported me over the years. It hasn’t always been an easy journey but significant progress has been made. I will continue to support this club passionately.’

The timing of the 63-year-old’s departure has caused much consternation given Spurs ended their long wait for a trophy last season by winning the Europa League and have made an impressive start to life under new coach Thomas Frank who was able to make several eye-catching additions to his squad during the summer window.

Fans have regularly been protesting against Daniel Levy before home games (Picture: Getty)

Tottenham’s owners, Enic, have not avoided criticism (Picture: Getty)

According to the BBC , however, Levy has paid the price for presiding over a lack of success on the pitch over the course of his reign, with the Europa League triumph deemed nowhere near enough to compensate for previous failures.

The ownership were said to be unanimous in their belief that removing Levy from his position would give the club the best possible opportunity to succeed and deliver on its potential.

Levy had been instrumental in bringing in new Spurs head coach Thomas Frank, following the departure of Ange Postecoglou despite the club’s success in the Europa League last season after finishing 17th in the Premier League on the back of a club-record 22 defeats.

There were, though, growing frustrations within some of the Spurs fanbase over a perceived lack of progress under Levy’s long tenure, after a string of managers had come and gone without being able to deliver silverware.

Ange Postecoglou was sacked in the summer despite ending Spurs’ trophy drought (Picture: Getty)

Tottenham said when announcing Levy’s departure that there would be “no changes to the ownership or shareholder structure of the club,” with board member Peter Charrington, who is a director of Spurs’ owners ENIC, taking on the newly created role of non-executive chairman.

A club statement read: ‘As part of its succession planning, the club has made a number of senior appointments in recent months.

‘Vinai Venkatesham was hired as chief executive officer, with Thomas Frank as our new men’s head coach and Martin Ho as women’s head coach.

Thomas Frank has made an impressive start to his Spurs tenure (Picture: Getty)

‘Peter Charrington joined the board and will step into the newly created role of non-executive chairman.’

Charrington paid tribute to the work of Levy in helping move the club forward, with a new stadium and also playing Champions League football, having reached the final in 2019 where they were beaten by Liverpool.

‘I am very honoured to become non-executive chairman of this extraordinary club and, on behalf of the board, I would like to thank Daniel and his family for their commitment and loyalty to the club over so many years,’ Charrington said.