Keith Wyness reveals the real Tottenham windfall from pre-season tour
Tottenham Hotspur's pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand was more about long-term exposure than any short-term gain.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Lilywhites won't have made more than around £1.5million from their entire tour.
Roberto De Zerbi's side took on both Auckland FC and Sydney FC during their time away, with both fixtures drawing bumper crowds.
However, Wyness believes that the main reason for the tour was "strategically" helping the club to reach a new area, and warned that any benefits may only be seen in the longer term.
Tottenham's clash with Auckland set a new attendance record for a football match in New Zealand, with over 40,000 fans coming through the gates.
However, despite the unprecedented demand for the game, Wyness believes that it will be like a drop in the ocean to Tottenham's finances.
Tottenham net £600,000 from Auckland friendly
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Spurs will only have made around £600,000 from the Auckland clash, despite the record crowd.
The Scottish businessman emphasised that their takings from the game would be far less than that of their typical home matchday.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, he explained some of the long-term benefits of the team's summer tour.
"First of all, we've got to put it in perspective. Yes, it was the biggest football crowd in New Zealand's history, but I'm afraid New Zealand is a very, very small market in a very small country," Wyness said.
"They probably wouldn't have cleared much more than a total gate of £750,000 to £1m in terms of revenue. So Spurs' share of that might have been £500,000 to £600,000, but I think they'd have got an appearance fee.
"The whole trip to New Zealand, they're not going to be making much more than maybe £1.5m. It's not a lot, but it's strategically reaching another area.
"Spurs have been chipping away at the Australia and New Zealand market for a long time now and trying to consolidate it down there. To me, it's not the big numbers.
"It could well be about trying to position themselves in terms of getting the young talent coming from these areas. If you get one young player who comes because of these sorts of trips, then you're making your £5m or £10m straight away.
"It's worth it from a strategic marketing point of view, I get it, but it's not going to move the needle that much."
Tottenham to agree Mason Melia exit this week
Football Insider revealed on Sunday that Tottenham will agree and finalise a loan move for young striker Mason Melia this week.
Sources have indicated that the Lilywhites have fielded as many as "30 enquiries" from clubs in England and across Europe in the 18-year-old, who is tipped to have a huge future ahead of him.
A stint in the Championship is currently seen as the most likely option for the Republic of Ireland international.
Tottenham have huge hopes for Melia in the future, and are keen to get him regular first-team minutes to aid his development.