Soccer: Spurs chairman snubs Hoddle takeover

LONDON - Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has rejected newspaper reports linking former manager and player Glenn Hoddle with a possible takeover of the Premier League club.

A report in the People newspaper said Hoddle held talks with a group of millionaire businessmen about buying Levy's majority share.

Hoddle, who took over as coach of Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers last week, was quoted as saying: "My contacts have already put in two bids of £55 million ($151.09 million) and £65 million but Levy wanted £90 million for it.

"Daniel is having his last little go but if the pressure comes he'll run. Daniel will not like the pressure."

This season, Spurs parted company with coach Jacques Santini after just 13 games and recently lost six consecutive games in the league.

However, under new coach Martin Jol they have won their last three.

In a club website statement, Levy denied that the club was for sale.

"We have never put a 'for sale' sign up at this club and we are not about to do so," said Levy.

"I have invested time, energy and money in getting this club in the shape it's now in financially, both as a player in the transfer window and as a club with a future.

"We have a duty to our shareholders to consider seriously any approaches for the club from bona fide buyers, but we have not had any such negotiations or discussions and we have no intention of selling.

"This kind of inaccurate speculation is irritating only because I do not want our fans, players, staff and shareholders to take it seriously."

Hoddle was sacked by Levy six matches into last season but says he could return if Levy sells up.

"There would be a clean sweep not only behind the scenes, but on the football front too. Hopefully these guys would say: 'Glenn, you run the football side'. The way they do it at the moment is amateurish."

 

- REUTERS