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Daily Premier League in English: Episode 79 - #LevyOut - but who's in
18 Plays13 days ago
Marcus gives a background to the latest protests at Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur football clubs - with fans not happy with their board - and asks - what's the plan?
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Transcript
Introduction: Solo Hosting by Marcus
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Global Sports Podcast Network daily English Premier League show. I'm Marcus Ramthal and I am joined by... No one. I'm flying solo today.
Fan Dissatisfaction and Club Boards
00:00:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think nobody wants to touch this with a barge pole. It's a weird one. It's not wildcard Wednesday. It's wildcard Tuesday today.
00:00:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And I want to look at how, you know, it's February. um People are starting to see where the season's lying. And fans in general, depending on where you're sitting in the table, are not happy with their boards or with their chairman. Yes, this is a very...
00:00:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Hot topic at the moment.
Leicester City's Project Reset Protest
00:00:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But I'm going to start with the Project Reset at Leicester City because they had their own protest this weekend as well.
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Project Reset. Essentially saying that, you know, since the relegation in 2023, that the club held an internal review and to quote them, no meaningful findings were ever shared, nor were any visible consequences enacted.
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Instead, the club continued along the same path, allowing the same key decision makers to remain in place unchecked. um And they also go on to cite a lack of playing and footballing identity, saying that under Dean Smith, you know, they're a counter-attacking side.
00:01:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Under Maresca, they were patient, possessing possession-based. And... and harsh this I think under Cooper they say nobody including the players knew what the philosophy was actually meant to be and of course Leicester sitting 19th in the table at the moment on 17 points um just above them on 17 as well just pipping them with goal difference is um Ipswich Town They've got one win
Reflecting on Leicester City's Decline
00:01:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
in five. It looks like they're going straight down, which I i couldn't see.
00:01:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's a real sorry state of affairs from kind of only recently, it feels like, seeing them win the Premier League, 15-16 season winning the Premier League. And, of course,
00:02:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
that tragic helicopter crash where the chairman Vichai died in 2018. I think the club hasn't really recovered from that. So Leicester City fans aren't happy, not necessarily because of where they are in the league. you know im Of course they're concerned about that, but the Project Reset clearly saying, well, we've known about these issues for a while and the club isn't really doing anything to address them.
Spurs Fans Protest Against Daniel Levy
00:02:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah That was kind of overshadowed by the Levy out protests. that Spurs had a good win against Man United. You could say Man United it just were not good enough.
00:02:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
But a home win during the protests and it was all about ousting Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. um So I thought we'd take a good look at what's going on there.
00:03:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
because Levy is the longest serving Premier League chairman. He's he's been at the club since 2001. And those of you who can remember as far back as 2001,
00:03:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
He took over from Alan Sugar as he was then, Lord Sugar as he is now. And again, the fans weren't happy with ah what was going on under Lord Sugar.
00:03:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Levy was kind of seen as, you know what, he is a businessman. He's a Spurs fan, which I think a lot of people forget. He is a fan of the club, lifelong fan of the club.
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And, you know, when he came in, fans were excited. It's been a long time now. Like say, he's the longest serving Premier League chairman.
Commercial Success vs. On-Field Struggles at Spurs
00:03:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is also the highest paid Premier League chief executive, if I've done my research correctly.
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And in 2017-18, the club recorded healthy performance. ah the club recorded a healthy 113 million pound profit so you can see why the fans are starting to question what's happening at Spurs um slight segue here it is a healthy profit and here's more to do about your health
00:04:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, do check out Bionique. As I said, healthy profit for Spurs in 17-18 and the group Change for Spurs who've been behind these protests. ah Been looking into them.
00:05:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
well organized at very articulate with with what they're kind of saying and interestingly on their website in their manifesto in other documents they've commended spurs for their commercial success resulting in the best football stadium in Europe and but they also know that it should be acknowledged that the fans have contributed to that without unwavering support over the last twenty two years and And the the banners at the ah all over the stadium were kind of citing 24 years, 16 managers, one trophy, that League Cup in 2007-2008. So will talk about the stadium shortly.
00:05:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lack of success for Tottenham. you know It's weird to think. I grew up with a Spurs that had the likes of Gazza and Lineker in them and were constantly banging for that FA Cup final and and a real threat and a real history of that club. So it's sad to see where they are in terms of success on the pitch commercially ah doing fantastic I've been to the new stadium I've done the stadium tour and the skywalk there and I think it's an amazing facility 62,850 retractable pitch the technology that goes into that is is wonderful if you're a football fan of any kind I recommend just going on that stadium tour and checking it out um but one of the the kind of key soundbites from this week was Jamie Redknapp saying look
00:06:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
He re reckons as long as they've got Beyonce, as long as they've got the NFL, the board are happy. and And I'm inclined to agree, which is a real shame because as i said, Daniel Levy is a Spurs fan um to the point, and I don't know if there's any truth in this, but apparently during the construction of the stadium, Levy went over and above kind of the budget, not above the budget. He spent extra to make sure...
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
that the cranes in the North London skyline were painted blue and were not red. And ah all the fire extinguishers in the stadium apparently are not red. They are various shades that are not red, but still in compliance with fire regulations. Someone can fact jet for me and tell me in the comments um if that is true, then...
00:07:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow. i don't I've got no words if that's true. my My point here, I suppose, is yeah it would highlight that Levy is a Spurs fan. and He wants the best for the club. Interestingly enough, in the manifesto that the Change for Spurs group have got, they also say they don't want Levy out.
00:07:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know if people know this. It says they would like Daniel Levy to step aside from footballing matters and focus on commercial growth. So um they' they're not saying necessarily that they want him to to leave completely and they're unhappy with what's happening there.
00:08:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, mentioned they said they've got the best football stadium in Europe.
00:08:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll come on to that. um I think it's incredible stadium and an amazing place. that roof that covers in and keeps all the sound in as well, adding to the atmosphere.
00:08:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But of course, it's difficult to have an atmosphere when your club is underachieving, when you used to have the likes of Gareth Bale and Harry Kane in your squad and now are struggling to finish in a decent league position, struggling to win trophies.
Football as a Business: Board Investments
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
So um yes, I feel your pain Spurs fans, but I will ask a few questions of you later on ah in this this episode. But first of all, let's hear about Zencastr.
00:09:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And back to that best stadium in Europe quote. So I have been, I've done a lot of stadium tours and I've been to a lot of of games in a lot of different clubs. um New Camp at Barcelona was an incredible experience. And even though it's older, I still think there's something quite special about the stadium and the facilities are incredible.
00:09:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Real Madrid have taken the cake with it, haven't they? Santiago Bernabeu, and That rebuild is incredible. Another retractable pitch.
00:09:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very much a commercial decision by Fiorentina Perez to create a stadium that can be used beyond once every couple of weeks to host a football match.
00:10:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
So again, chasing down, you know, can we get Bill Gates in here to speak? Can we get Taylor Swift to perform in here? I think she was the first artist to perform there as well. um And similar, Perez has been there since 2000.
00:10:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it feels like almost like a dictatorship that everyone's very happy with, apart from being ah not at the club, I think between 2006 and I want to say.
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
um He has been at the helm of the club and ah he is almost, you know, he is Mr Real Madrid and what he says goes. And the fans seem happy with that.
00:10:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I suppose the difference here is they have won seven Champions Leagues since he's been there. So you can kind of see, you know what, it's all right when you're winning.
00:11:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And to that point, across the league here in the UK... Other protests have gone a bit silent. Considering that Liverpool didn't have a very good transfer market, me personally at the beginning of the season, I kind of looked at the squad and went, they're decent players, but we need some more depth.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I've been proved... wrong incredibly well by some players really stepping up on a slot. But it's not so long ago we were hearing FSG out, ringing across the sands and around Anfield and around Liverpool.
00:11:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And despite the lack of transfers, do you know what? The Anfield Road extensions added 4,000 seats. Been there and seen a couple of games recently. Really impressed with that expansion.
00:11:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And... seven points clear at top of the league. It's all right when you're winning. um And it takes me right back to 1995, Blackburn Rovers, that kind of story of the team no one expected winning the league, Jack Walker, big fan, local lad.
00:12:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And... danger of when you put a fan in charge of a club because yes he put all his money in Blackburn won the Premier League but the following season failed to capitalise they finished 7th and only reached the group stage of the Champions League despite Alan Shearer greatest Premier League goalscorer fight me in the comments 31 league goals 37 across all competitions and it was a bit of a damp squib season for Blackburn Rovers and
00:12:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
got to commend that Walker did say ah he didn't invest in the players because he trusted the players that got him this far which to me speaks a little bit of that kind of romantic side of football that I absolutely love but there is a bit of pragmatism involved in business and we're seeing that in some of the decisions made by FSG, Daniel Levy um whether you agree with him or not is a whole other issue and please do share your comments as well And what we're seeing as well, football is a business and we're seeing that success comes from boards and chairmen willing to invest in their clubs beyond the transfer market.
00:13:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if we think about um you know Ryan Reynolds, what he's doing at Wrexham with the media side of things, ah what the Abu Dhabi United Group have done at Manchester City, if you've been up to there, if you have been to the Etihad and the surrounding area, the transformation there, the investment long-term in a strategy...
00:13:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
that will so stand the club in good stead. and So I'm really interested to hear what you guys think about what's going on at Spurs, Leicester and all the
The Need for Succession Plans in Club Ownership
00:13:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
other clubs. I do think we'd be seeing a bit more discontent at Liverpool if they weren't sitting top of the league.
00:13:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But my question really for all of this is we're seeing these groups, Project Reset and um Change for Spurs, talking about, well, let's get rid of this ownership.
00:14:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
What i haven't seen, and correct me if I'm wrong, in any of the literature, any of the websites of these groups is, well, What's your succession plan? Who's coming in instead?
00:14:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And to you know maybe be careful for what you wish for. ah We saw recently that that Elon Musk was thinking about buying Liverpool. I don't know how true that was, but we saw a lot Liverpool fans kind of go, oh, hang on a minute. it Well, we don't really want that.
00:14:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So what's the plan? if If Spurs get rid of Levy, um who's coming in? How's it going to run? As I said, deep down in the manifesto of change for Spurs, we can see that getting rid of Levy basically means they want him to continue to focus on the commercial success of the club.
00:15:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who will come in? What changes do you want to see? um And are we getting carried away? that The protest was the biggest it's been recently. I think it was thousand people.
00:15:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
There were plenty more thousands who weren't protesting. um Let us know what you think in the comments. And of course, if you are a fan of Spurs ah or Leicester City, you can check out the Daily Leicester podcast. You can check out the Daily Tottenham podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:15:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're also covering women's football and fantasy football. And of course, it's every club, every day. I've been Marcus Ramterholt. You've been listening to the Global Sports Podcast Network daily English Premier League show.