Keith Wyness: Tottenham face 'big flashing red light' - 'This is critical...'
Tottenham Hotspur face another "critical" test away from the pitch as their front-of-shirt sponsorship with AIA is set to expire at the end of the season.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the ease with which Spurs agree a new partnership will provide the "biggest barometer" as to how their on-pitch struggles have affected their commercial operations.
Several Premier League clubs had difficulties with agreeing shirt sponsorships this summer, with the new ban on gambling companies limiting the options available in that department.
Wyness is adamant that their next shirt sponsorship is a seismic test for the Lilywhites, who have already seen sponsors walk away from them in recent weeks.
Korean furniture brand Sidiz recently triggered a clause to exit their deal at the end of October, as they were not satisfied with Tottenham's performances on the pitch.
Wyness also pointed towards the exit of Chief Financial Officer Ryan Norys as a major reason for concern ahead of the AIA deal expiring.
Companies to be put off by Sidiz termination
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 Sidiz's termination of their deal with Spurs will serve as a "big flashing red light" for any companies who are contemplating sponsoring the club.
The Scottish businessman is adamant that the North London outfit could potentially be facing a big loss of revenue when it comes to agreeing their new partnership.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained how addressing the shirt sponsor issue is a top priority for Spurs.
"This is critical, and this is the next big test for Spurs. We all know there's a huge test on the pitch right now, but off the pitch, this is probably one of the biggest barometers that's going to come up very soon now," he said.
"Last week we talked about Sidiz pulling out as a sponsor because of the performance criteria. They didn't feel it would be met by Spurs. That's a big flashing red light for sponsors coming in for front-of-shirt as well.
"You've also got the fact that the Chief Revenue Officer, Ryan Norys, has gone. We talked about Daniel Levy having gone. And these are the architects of the revenue engine that produced this for Spurs.
"They're going to have new people coming in, having to hit the ground running on this backdrop of poor Spurs performance right now and the issues around the Sidiz situation, which I think is actually quite a big factor."
Tottenham drifting into 'Chelsea-type situation'
Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson recently told Football Insider that Spurs are at risk of drifting into a "Chelsea-type situation" if they do not address their front-of-shirt sponsorship soon.
The football finance expert is adamant that the capital club need to get a new agreement in place well in advance of their partnership with AIA reaching its conclusion next summer.
If they do not manage that, then Borson believes Spurs could end up in a similar situation to the one Chelsea experienced this summer.
The Blues went until just a few weeks before the season began without a front-of-shirt sponsorship in place, and ultimately had to settle for a one-year deal, leaving the exact same problem next summer.