Stefan Borson drops verdict on Joe Lewis returning to Tottenham after Donald Trump twist
Tottenham’s ownership situation has been in the spotlight recently following several behind-the-scenes changes in north London.
There has been plenty of speculation surrounding a Tottenham takeover since former executive chairman Daniel Levy’s departure was confirmed in September.
ENIC owns an 86.91 per cent stake in Tottenham, while Levy and members of his family hold a 29.88 per cent share in the British investment company, and Joe Lewis’s family trust own the remaining 70.12 per cent.
Lewis handed over the ownership of Tottenham to his family trust in 2022, while he was fined £4million last year after pleading guilty to insider trading.
However, it emerged last week Lewis has been pardoned by US President Donald Trump, allowing him to receive medical treatment and visit family in America.
What does Joe Lewis’s pardon mean for Tottenham?
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider Lewis likely wouldn’t pass the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test despite the pardon.
The 88-year-old purchased Sir Alan Sugar’s controlling stake in Tottenham for £22m in 2001 before stepping aside three years ago.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “I don’t think this one makes much difference. I mean, first of all, Joe Lewis is not the owner of Tottenham and hasn’t been for a number of years.
“The family trust has been for all of the time since then obviously, but in actual practice as well. I don’t think it makes much difference there.
“I actually don’t suspect that the pardon will impact the ability of the club to get through an owners’ and directors’ test anyway, even if he wanted to come back on the board, so I don’t think there’s even a possibility that he could. I would put that to one side in terms of being a bit of a red herring.”
ENIC was one of the first owners to explore the multi-club model after also investing in Rangers, Slavia Prague, AEK Athens and Vicenza more than two decades ago, but Spurs are now its sole interest within the sport.
Tottenham ownership update emerges after Donald Trump reveal
As part of the recent changes in north London, Tottenham appointed Peter Charrington as non-executive chairman following Levy’s departure.
Lewis’s daughter Vivienne, his son Charles and Nick Beucher, the husband of Vivienne’s daughter, are now also more actively involved in the running of the club.
“I think all the signs are they want to carry on being in charge of the club and they don’t want to sell,” said Borson.
“I think it’s all becoming clear that the removal of Daniel Levy was not a precursor to a sale but rather a precursor of more involvement from the family and more of them doing things their way.
“I’m not sure the pardon makes much difference to it, although presumably within the family, it makes life a bit easier. I would think we just carry on now and we see probably some more investment on the playing side, and that goes to transfer fees and wages.”
Thomas Frank’s side currently sit fifth in the Premier League table after the opening 11 games of this season.
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