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Open Letter from Daniel Levy

nicdic

Official SC Padre
Admin
May 8, 2005
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http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/openletterfromchairmandaniellevy.html

Dear Supporter,

Today we welcome members of our new coaching team to the Lane - Juande Ramos and Marcos Alvarez and, in doing so, we bring to an end an unsettled two months for our Club.

Much has been written and speculated about the Club in the past few weeks. Quite clearly there are always two sides to every story but, in the interests of the Club, we have endured much criticism without responding or retaliating. We have instead issued statements, when appropriate, containing accurate and relevant information.

For you, the supporters, there are two particular issues on which I would now like to comment: Firstly regarding reports about Thursday evening - the first time Martin and I met to discuss his position was after the match, there were no discussions prior and there were none of the reported disagreements. We would not have, in any case, asked Martin to take charge of the match under those circumstances. Media speculation which preceded the game, inaccurately reporting Martin as having resigned, was in no way a deliberate measure by this Club, in no way served our purposes and we have resented any suggestion that this was the case. Leaks (which are wholly unacceptable) and speculation accompanied the game and it is a sad and regrettable aspect that individuals get caught in their midst.

Several events clearly did not happen as we all would have wished and I am the first to admit that things could have been handled differently and better.

Secondly, I should like to once again outline how the acquisition and disposal of players works at the club. We have a Football Management Group which meets on a regular basis – this is constituted by myself, Damien Comolli (Sporting Director), John Alexander (Club Secretary) and the Head Coach, now Juande Ramos. This group meets to discuss, identify and acquire players in targeted positions and to consider possible disposals. No player is brought into the Club or sold who is not approved by the coaching staff – it would be counter-productive to buy players that won’t be played. It is a system that Juande has worked with for years, which allows him to specify his needs and to concentrate on coaching the team whilst Damien and his scouting network seek options. This process clearly relies on accurate briefing and good decision making. It has a collective responsibility.

In conclusion, you, our supporters, should know that your Board has always had, and will always have, the long term interests of your Club as its sole focus.

In the past six years we have accommodated many changes, some of our own instigation and some that were thrust upon us by circumstance. I consider it the mark of the strength of an organisation as to how it deals with change, realigns and moves forward. We have made the changes, popular or unpopular as they may be, that we felt were necessary and right. New possibilities now face us, please lend us your support as we move forward together.

Yours,
Daniel
 

MarkinJapan

New Member
Feb 4, 2005
369
0
I hope that's all true and for the sake of the club, let's get fully behind the new guy and hope that our shared goals can be achieved.
Goal 1: Get out of the relegation zone
Goal 2: Shore up the defense
Goal 3: Move up the table
Come January, let's take stock, ditch a few and bring in some reinforcements.
COYS!
 

joey55

Well-Known Member
May 20, 2005
9,691
3,169
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/openletterfromchairmandaniellevy.html
Firstly regarding reports about Thursday evening - the first time Martin and I met to discuss his position was after the match, there were no discussions prior and there were none of the reported disagreements.

Why is Levy being so stupid? I respect him as a chairman and businessman, but by writing letters like this and the statement he made after the Kemsley/Ramos affair, just make it seem as if he thinks fans are dumb. We knew during the match Jol had been fired and we know that Ledley King asked Jol what was going on as soon as they got back to the dressing room. How did Jol know he'd been fired, if he hadn't yet met Levy?
 

DFF

YOLO, Daniel
May 17, 2005
14,225
6,090
Why is Levy being so stupid? I respect him as a chairman and businessman, but by writing letters like this and the statement he made after the Kemsley/Ramos affair, just make it seem as if he thinks fans are dumb.

They are though...


We knew during the match Jol had been fired and we know that Ledley King asked Jol what was going on as soon as they got back to the dressing room. How did Jol know he'd been fired, if he hadn't yet met Levy?

Bingo.

How do you know this?
 

tony0379

The bald midget has to go!
May 17, 2004
15,893
41,562
maybe kelsley went behind his back levy's back under comolli's orders
 

ds

daniel san
May 6, 2005
3,120
137
Interesting ... still don't trust you pathetic scum !

Why don't you trust him?

The only thing we know for certain that he did was send Kelmsley to Ramos, and he's held his hands up about that and said that it was dealt with badly.

Any other bad opinions you have about him are probably because of the press. Don't tell me you trust them?!?
 

nicdic

Official SC Padre
Admin
May 8, 2005
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I think we have to just trust the board, instead of believing everything written in the press.
 

DEFchenkOE

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2006
10,527
8,052
Why is Levy being so stupid? I respect him as a chairman and businessman, but by writing letters like this and the statement he made after the Kemsley/Ramos affair, just make it seem as if he thinks fans are dumb. We knew during the match Jol had been fired and we know that Ledley King asked Jol what was going on as soon as they got back to the dressing room. How did Jol know he'd been fired, if he hadn't yet met Levy?

I agree, these comments make no sense whatsoever, the Times broke this story sometime during or before the match as well as itk's reporting this earlier that day. This is almost as bad as the statement denying that we had met with Ramos in August/September
 

joey55

Well-Known Member
May 20, 2005
9,691
3,169
They are though...




Bingo.

How do you know this?

Either Sky's or ITV's (can't rememebr which) reporter spoke to senior players as they were leaving and that is what they said.
 

MarkinJapan

New Member
Feb 4, 2005
369
0
I agree, these comments make no sense whatsoever, the Times broke this story sometime during or before the match as well as itk's reporting this earlier that day. This is almost as bad as the statement denying that we had met with Ramos in August/September

They never denied they met him, they denied they met him to offer him the job.
 

TaoistMonkey

Welcome! Everything is fine.
Staff
Oct 25, 2005
32,629
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plus jol said that his nephew told hime after the match walking down the tunnel.

straight from the horses mouth
 

Bill_Oddie

Everything in Moderation
Staff
Feb 1, 2005
19,120
6,003
Are people actually reading the letter?

Sounds to me like Levy and co had decided that should the team - led by BMJ - lose our proud home European record, after all the poor results and performances recently, this was the final straw and he would be sacked. However, as he has repeatedly said, he didn't want this to happen. He just had to plan for the eventuality. Something he has been doing for months (and possibly years). Once more, every other club knows all about good managers and would be in contact with those as and when it becomes sensible to. For example, Newcastle with Jol and Chelsea with Klinnsmann.

PK and JE met Ramos - for the final time, I hope - to discuss the Spurs job, not necessarily to offer it to him. We're fans of the Spainiard and our months of talking allowed us to bring him in quickly and smoothly when Jol's time was up.

Levy's letter is typical say-nothing drivel, but thats what you expect from a man in his position. It doesn't mean it isn't the right thing to do.
 

DFF

YOLO, Daniel
May 17, 2005
14,225
6,090
Either Sky's or ITV's (can't rememebr which) reporter spoke to senior players as they were leaving and that is what they said.

I'd have to see that particular evidence myself before i comment further on that. But it doesn't disagree at all with what Levy's said. Especially when you consider this:

Leaks (which are wholly unacceptable) and speculation accompanied the game and it is a sad and regrettable aspect that individuals get caught in their midst.
That fact that Jol may or may not have known something was up during the match, or even heard some ITK as it were, doesn't negate this statement which you quoted:
Firstly regarding reports about Thursday evening - the first time Martin and I met to discuss his position was after the match, there were no discussions prior and there were none of the reported disagreements.
Doesn't disagree at all. First time they met to discuss his position. No discussions prior and none of the reported disagreements. Not to mention:

We would not have, in any case, asked Martin to take charge of the match under those circumstances.
Jol may have heard whispers before and during and after the match, which, again, would explain:
Leaks (which are wholly unacceptable) and speculation accompanied the game and it is a sad and regrettable aspect that individuals get caught in their midst.
But he didn't know (he'd maybe heard whisperings from various people up to that point) until he had met with Levy afterwards. The fact that there are numerous snidy fucking people at the club who leak info like there's no tomorrow doesn't negate anything Levy has claimed to have happened.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
The most rational explanation is that there will always be leaks like that in football. How do we get wind of signings or departures etc. Before Jol, Hughton & Seggers were sacked there would have been several meetings - tactical, legal, personnel etc - and obviously Ramos had already said yes, so this was another area which would lend itself to leakage.

The resignation thing is obviously bollocks - as if Hughton and Segers would all decide to resign.

Jol was probably leaked the info himself and knew it was coming but it probably never came until post game officially. The board probably deciding that this would be honourable and fitting (ie letting Jol take charge of one last game) and not wishing to disrupt a very important game by sacking a manager that afternoon.

I said this a while ago in another thread, but I bet many of the board wanted to sack Jol months ago, at least in the summer, but kept him on out of loyalty (misguided or otherwise). I also think that Ramos possibly indicated at the famous "meeting" that the would love the job. And either loyalty to Jol amongst some of the board, or symantecs (Ramos's need to learn the language, his employers etc) and a bit of negative publicity meant that it didn't happen immediately.
 

tototoner

Staying Alert
Mar 21, 2004
29,402
34,111
Why is Levy being so stupid? I respect him as a chairman and businessman, but by writing letters like this and the statement he made after the Kemsley/Ramos affair, just make it seem as if he thinks fans are dumb. We knew during the match Jol had been fired and we know that Ledley King asked Jol what was going on as soon as they got back to the dressing room. How did Jol know he'd been fired, if he hadn't yet met Levy?

Jol's p.a. ( also Nephew ) told him in the tunnel
 

Colonel_Klinck

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2004
12,696
23,298
Jol's p.a. ( also Nephew ) told him in the tunnel

That's what i read in some piece today.
I think DFF is right, it was leaked by someone inside at Spurs and that kinda of thing is always going to happen in football as it does politics. It's a shame it was as Jol deserved better but this saga should have been dealt with a while ago.
Lets just hope Ramos kicks some serious ass on monday cause what i paid money to watch today was no where near good enough.
 
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