Amanda Staveley is best known as the public face of the Newcastle United takeover in 2021. Previously, she brokered the sale of Man City to Sheikh Mansour. Now, she might have Tottenham in her sights.
Staveley has been linked with Tottenham since June, when reports suggested she had put together a consortium backed by £500m worth of capital for a new football investment project.
Since her shock departure from Newcastle earlier this year, Staveley has said several times that she is eager to get back into the game that she loves in a hands-on role.
Amanda Staveley attends the UEFA lunch between Milan and Newcastle at Ristorante Cracco on September 19, 2023 in Milan, Italy
Photo by Alessandro Bremec/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The 51-year-old football finance dealmaker, whose book of contacts in the Middle East in particular is peerless, captured hearts and minds at St James’ Park, where she symbolised the start of a new era.
For Tottenham fans who feel disenfranchised by the ownership of Daniel Levy and ENIC, her interest in the club is an evocative prospect.
Despite Ange Postecoglou’s side’s 5-0 win over Southampton on Sunday, which proved to be Russel Martin’s last game as Saints manager, many supporters are anxious about Spurs’ trajectory on the pitch.
Tottenham’s 16-year trophy drought is obviously well documented, but the commercial orientation of the club has caused some to question the owners’ priorities.
Tottenham Hotspur fans display a banner saying ' Love Tottenham, Hate ENIC ' during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Tottenham ...
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
The response from Levy, who was recently accused by Cristian Romero of underinvestment, has always maintained that better commercial revenue will lead to an enhanced recruitment and retention budget.
There is merit to that argument, especially when the Premier League are locked in a commercial arms race that has seen sponsorship, merchandise and events revenue skyrocket in the last decade.
But Spurs have comfortably the lowest amortisation and wages-to-turnover ratio in the Premier League and, if the owners were willing to finance it, ample headroom under PSR to spend more.
Chart showing Tottenham Hotspur's squad cost (wages + amortisation) against revenue
In a message accompanying Spurs’ accounts in April, Levy announced that they had commissioned the Rothschild bank to seek fresh capital investment, some of which would be diverted to the playing budget.
However, as Liverpool University football finance lecturer and industry insider Kieran Maguire told TBR Football earlier this year, it’s likely that at least some of the investment funds would be pocketed by ENIC.
Since then, concrete updates on Staveley’s interest in Spurs have been few and far between.
That isn’t unusual, of course. If talks are ongoing, it is likely that non-disclosure agreements will be in place. But the vacuum of information has caused much hand-wringing in N17 all the same.
Amanda Staveley, Co-Owner of Newcastle United reacts during the free kick competition in the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Leic...
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
When Staveley was listed among the speakers at a high-profile sports business conference this week therefore, it was hoped that more details might be in the offing.
And while the PCP Capital Partners supremo did not exactly distance herself from Spurs, she did make some remarks that suggest they aren’t the only club on her radar.
If Staveley was to buy into Spurs, it would almost certainly be on a minority basis. That wouldn’t come cheap, as Daniel Levy values the club at almost £4bn.
Where there would be space to her in Spurs corporate structure isn’t entirely clear.
Diagram showing the ownership structure of Tottenham, including Daniel Levy, the discretionary trust benefitting the family of Joe Lewis, ENIC, and 30,000 other Spurs investors
If she was to look at a club outside the Premier League, where enterprise valuations are sky-high, she would have a better chance of obtaining a controlling influence.
Previously, it has been said that Staveley is also considering AS Monaco, whose owner Dmitry Rybolovlev has put the club up for sale.
And at Bloomberg’s Women, Money & Power event, Staveley confirmed that multiple “investment operations” are being considered.
As quoted by BBC Sport, she was asked directly about her overtures towards in Spurs.
“First of all, I think all we can do is thank the amazing Newcastle community and the founders for all the support that we had and and continue to get,” Staveley said.
“It’s so hard to move on from a club that’s amazing. We could never move on from Newcastle and we never will. But yes, we’re looking at a number of investment operations.
“We can’t say too much at the moment because of you know, rules around it. But we will be able to talk about it, hopefully in the not too distant future.”
Real Madrid, Crystal Palace, Monaco: The clubs on the market as Staveley explores Spurs investment
The world of football business never sleeps and there are umpteen clubs for sale at any one time.
In the Premier League, John Textor is trying to offload his 45 per cent stake in Crystal Palace.
He is the single largest shareholder at Selhurst Park but does not have operational control and has grown frustrated about not being able to steer the club in the direction he wants.
Amanda Staveley, director of Newcastle United, during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Newcastle United at Bramall Lane on Sep...
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
However, whether would be an attractive option for Staveley given that she wants a boots-on-the-ground role is up for debate.
Interestingly, Textor is also considering selling a stake in his Eagle Football group, which also owns Ligue 1 side Lyon and recently-crowned Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo.
In the Premier League, West Ham are seeking a buyer for a chunk of the shares owned by Vanessa Gold, daughter of the late David Gold. Brentford and Wolves are also looking for a minority partner.
Elsewhere, the stable of clubs that was owned by 777 Partners is up for sale.
Florentino Perez Rodriguez, President of Real Madrid looks on as Real Madrid new signing, Endrick Felipe is unveiled at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu o...
Photo by Mateo Villalba/Getty Images
The Miami-based investment firm have gone into liquidation, meaning stakes in Standard Liege, Red Star, Sevilla and Vasco da Gama are for sale.
Perhaps most tantalisingly, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has signalled that the club could take on private investment for the first time in its history.
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