- Oct 8, 2004
- 1,640
- 49
I think it is only prudent to presume that ENIC will, at some stage, sell the club to the highest bidder. The nature of business and indeed life is that all things are impermanent, so either the club ceases to exist, or it is sold.
The question we should perhaps be asking, is whether there is a conflict of interest between ENIC and the fans. ENIC are undoubtedly interested, primarily, in a return on investment, while the fans are primarily concerned about the club as a going concern as well as competing for honours. The location of the club is also quite important. The order of those priorities is perhaps down to the individual.
So is there a conflict of interest between the first two, and the attempt to realise a return on investment? I would say, not necessarily, the three pretty much go hand in hand.
It comes down to a question of how much financial difference will it make? Is that financial difference enough to justify leaving our current home?
At what cost should we stay where we are?
What material difference would the savings and additional revenue make to the chances of success of the team?
As you mention, until we have the figures it is difficult to make a decision. Unfortunately, we might not actually get the detailed costings, so we have to base our decision on other information.
The first is a question of the level of trust we have in the board? And this is largely predicated on whether there is an actual conflict of interest betweeen maximising shareholder returns and progressing the future of the football club.
Personally, I think the two are interlinked, so I would give the benefit of the doubt to the board, because if it improves the value of the club, then it will have a trickle down effect on the team.
Benefit of the doubt? It doesn't even register with me that anybody could conceive gambling the future of their club on giving the board the benefit of the doubt, we're not talking about financial problems, dodgy signings or the price of half time pies, this is the entire existence of Tottenham we're risking here.