Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust
  • About us
  • THST News
  • Membership
  • Campaigns
  • Contact
  • AGM
  • Cycle On You Spurs
  • Forum

THST Statement: Clarity on dialogue

9/5/2021

 
Picture
Since the Club announced it was joining and then swiftly withdrawing from the European Super League, our aim has been to ensure that a situation like this never occurs again. That means the Club and the Trust need to talk. But clearly, any discussions cannot be business as usual. 



For years, the Club denied it was involved in plotting a breakaway, or sidestepped questions on the subject when we raised them at meetings with the Club Board. We clearly stated fan opposition to the kind of proposals that materialised in the ESL on a number of occasions, both verbally and in writing. The Club chose to disregard those views, while simultaneously engaging in the very conversations it denied were happening.
 
We cannot ignore what is a serious breach of trust and a blatant disregard for the principles of consultation. That breach of trust has damaged the Club’s relationships across football, not just with THST. So we need guarantees that any further meetings will not be undermined by secret negotiations and behind-the-scenes plots, and that fan views will not be ignored. Supporters must have confidence that any discussions are being conducted genuinely and in good faith.
 
Having been unable to reach an agreement with the Club on how talks should be conducted, we have approached the Football Supporters’ Association to mediate. The FSA has put forward a basis for mediation, and we have accepted that. We are waiting to hear whether the Club accepts it.
 
We recognise that our call for the Executive Board to resign is a serious step. Their decisions have caused severe reputational damage to our Club, and already cost the Club money in the shape of a financial penalty from UEFA. There could be more to come. We are happy to discuss why we think resignations are necessary, and to hear the Club’s view on who should be accountable for what has happened. But we cannot pretend that business as usual is an option. The Club’s standing with the whole football community has been affected.
 
Our commitment to dialogue cannot be doubted. Indeed, we have faced criticism at times for that commitment. For many years, we have fought hard to establish and maintain meaningful discussions with senior decision-makers at the Club. It is now clear that regulatory change is required. That’s why we are working with senior government and sports industry figures, and other fan groups, to deliver that change.
 
In the last three weeks, we have met with the Prime Minister, Secretary of State DCMS, Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Secretary DCMS, Shadow Sports Minister and the Premier League executive, as well as being in constant dialogue with fan groups at the other “Big Six” clubs and the Football Supporters’ Association.
 
We have further demonstrated our commitment to dialogue by putting forward a clear six-point agenda for discussion. All of those six points are aligned with ideas put forward at the other “Big Six” clubs and are being actively considered by the government’s fan-led review.
 
We encourage the Club to accept the proposals for mediation and begin to address the issues it has with its fans. That needs to happen sooner rather than later. Once that meeting happens, we will consult our membership on our next steps. 

 

THST Board
9 May 2021

Comments are closed.

    Categories

    All
    Against Franchise Football
    Atmosphere
    Away Fans
    Board
    Community
    Competitions
    Controlled Parking Zone
    Events
    Financial Results
    Football Without Fans Is Nothing
    Fundraising
    Legal
    Pricing
    Safe Standing
    Safety & Policing
    Season At Wembley
    Stadium
    Stop Stubhub
    Surveys
    THST Updates
    Ticket Exchange
    Ticketing
    Twenty's Plenty
    White Hart Lane

    THST News

    Keep up to date with the latest News from the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust

    JOIN    THST

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust

About Us
Membership

FAQs
Acknowledgements
Contact
Policies
Picture
As a voluntary, independent, not-for-profit organisation, THST relies solely on membership fees and donations to cover our running costs. All donations help us to deliver more for our members. 
Affiliate members of:
Picture
 © 2014 THST - All rights reserved