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Daniel Levy today admitted he wished he had appointed Harry Redknapp as Tottenham manager years ago and described his move to bring him to the club as the "best football decision during my time as chairman".
Redknapp celebrated 12 months in charge yesterday and will lead his team into their Carling Cup fourth-round tie with Everton tonight with a ringing endorsement from Levy. Redknapp has guided Spurs from the bottom of the table to fourth after 10 games of his second season in charge.
It has been a remarkable turnaround since the 62-year-old replaced Juande Ramos and Levy admitted: "My only regret is that he wasn't manager here a number of years ago. Based on how we've progressed since he's been here, it's the board's best football decision during my time as chairman.
"I always had high hopes that Harry would do a great job here."
Redknapp's anniversary coincided with Spurs submitting a planning application on a 56,250-seat ground adjacent to White Hart Lane, including a Kop-like single-tier stand. Levy hopes Spurs are playing in it by the start of the 2012/13 campaign. The cost of the project is expected to be similar to the £400million Arsenal spent on building Emirates Stadium, but the chairman was keen to reassure fans that the club's bid to establish themselves in the Premier League's top four would not be compromised.
“We will make sure that the way we finance this will have no negative impact on the club,” added Levy. “I'm not going to be too precise on numbers but the stadium project will be hundreds of millions of pounds.”
Levy's words ought to reassure Redknapp, who is making plans for the January transfer window.
Brazil midfielder Sandro, who is valued at £14m by Internacional, is top of his wanted list and Redknapp may travel to Qatar for the South Americans' friendly against England on 14 November to see his target in action.
Reader views (22)
Most amusing comments, as usual, from Tottenham fans...Unfortunately, you support a club light years benind their illustrious North London neighbours. Indeed you have never won the Premierhip - it is fast approaching 50 years since you managed to win the old 1st division. You have never even competed in the Champions League. You still have to obtain the necessary planning consents & finance the building of the new stadium in difficult financial times. Which is interesting as in 6 home games so far this season you have only managed an attendance of 36,000 on one occassion! We have heard the usual nonsense of how you will finish above Arsenal & in a Champions League place. After only 10 league games you are already behind us, with us having played only 9 games. After the weekend, I believe you will be 3 points behind us, probably a further 3 points behind after we play Bolton at home in a rearranged fixture. You will also be in 6th place after you play us, the position I expect you to finish at the end of the season. Strong rumours are emerging that Harry is feeling the pressure of the police investigation into his financial affairs & the travelling from his home is also taking its toll.
- Rob Gooner, North London
I quite enjoyed Levy's comment about creating a stadium with no dead space around it - a thinly disguised attack on the souless concrete bowl that is the New Highbury (whoops... sorry I mean the Emirates)?
- Mark, Essex
You can put lipstick on a pig and its still a pig. Ill bet that Hotel is full to capacity at all times, I mean who wouldn't want to stay just round the corner from Broadwater Farm, maybe even dance the night away with the Chavs at Rudolphs... I used to go out in Tottenham 20+ years ago and it was a god foresaken pit then, now I hear its gotten way worse. But you have to admire the delusional Spurs ever faithful, last time they won a championship steam trains were running... and much like every campaign since Spurs run out of steam every year.. hey its a nice stadium though, but a pig is a pig, lipstick and all...
- Jason In Texas, Austin, Texas
It is nice to have the warm congrats from our fellow north Londoners in their inimitable way. (Guess L'Arse will have to move again - could be nice for you to go back to Woolwich?). The jealousy speaks volumes.
- Coys Switz, switzerland
JK London. 'Has no one looked outside the gates of WHL its a dump & always will be.'Islington was exactly like that 20 years ago. Look at it now, or are you too small minded to realise when regeneration takes place it brings in further investment.Anyway all you gooners have enough to worry about. Have you ever looked at Holloway Road. Reminds me of the Kings Road !!!!
I'm enjoying all this green eyed stuff from the jealous hearts, especially Rob Hotspurs pontificating on as usual about accounts and lowly Bolton. Lowly Bolton I think your in Cuckoo Land.
- Kevin, London
Sorry, cannot comment - lost my thread amongst the awful stench of envy emanating from that pathetic over-the-water cannon manufacturing brigade.
- Ted, London
At last the most fickle fans in London will get a modern stadium but it will still be one of the most difficult to access and travel to. And whilst realistic at 56,000 its cosy/compact compared to the Arsenal and Man Utd capacities. However football is about realising dreams so I will let the most fickle fans in London to theirs. Spurs last won the Title in 1961...thats nearly 50 years doncha know?! Dream on...lol
- Sean, Cork, Ireland.
PJ, we won't be selling to arabs or Americans. Treasure the thought.
Small, quality and we will have our own identity, not like arsenal, lost that when they went to the emirates.
- Adrian, london
So there's clock, and its at one end. Just like....oohhh, at least about 80% of the professional grounds in the UK. Sorry gooners, Highbury wasn't in any way unique in that respect.
Mind you, it probably has a better atmosphere now its housing estate for yuppies than it ever used to as a football stadium.
- Richard, London UK
As the Gooners know, their stadium is not called The Library for nothing. Once they get out they have an overwhelming desire to let off steam - hot air, as usual. I think the little green-eyed monster can be found alive and well at The Emirates.
The more the Gooners shout about Spurs the more we know there's something they are worried about.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, Broxbourne
Tottenham will never be as big club as Arsenal even if they build a new stadium. Can they even fill 56,000 seats? Who cares anyway, what matters is on the pitch and the Arsenal will show you why we remain the dominant force in London on Saturday. Champions league football for Spurs is a realistic possibility this season if they are consistent. They could pip Liverpool and Man City to 4th place. Just a quick reminder that Spurs haven't beaten Arsenal in the league while Wenger has been in charge. That will continue on Saturday, don't think that we haven't forgotten what happened last season at Emirates.
- Mark Wilkins, Maidenhead, England
OMG! What a laughing stock Spurs will become. Now the board is as deluded as the fans. So they copy the clockend, KOP & even Chelsea with a ridiculous hotel/leisure complex!! Has no one looked outside the gates of WHL its a dump & always will be. Think they should focus on selling out every game & bringing in some TOP players first
- Jk, London
some very envious gooners here,is it because their new stadium is inferior to Spurs design,mind you the 36,000 at the lane make more of an atmosphere that the library crowd.
And they belong in East London not the north,ifthe Champions league is all the Gooners apire for which is just a money cup not a league for CHAMPIONS,THEN WHY ARE YOU IN IT..anyhow returning to Spurs fans this looks a great design and im sure with 60,000 crowd it will be awesome as we can outsing many a 60,000 lifeless gooner mob
- Phil, herts
A nice (small) stadium but a pipe dream of ending in the top four. Spurs can only realistically aspire to be in the europa cup. But don't worry - leave it Arsenal to represent north london on the big stage in the Champions League.- Mac, Highbury. Yes represent is all they will do they will never win it. They will represent with pride of the French nation, Viva La goonios!
- Colin Stevens, USA
Looks awesome. Loving the worried Gooners panicking on here!
- St, London
All 'Harry' has achieved so far was to escape the drop, by repairing the damage Daniel Levy had instigated by sacking the excellent Martin Jol, instead of backing him. This has been undertaken at huge financial cost to Tottenham, as will be seen in future accounts. The last set of accounts took into account the large fees received for Berbatov, Keane & Defoe, but not the cost of resigning Keane & Defoe, as well as purchasing players such as Palacios. With recent defeats to Stoke, Manchester United & Chelsea and in addition a draw to lowly Bolton, We now have Liverpool & Manchester City breathing down our necks. Hence, I see us finishing once again outside the top four. In all likelyhood 5th or possibly 6th place, which is where we were before Levy's 'nonsense' began. I also, have a sneaking suspicion that England will come calling after the world cup & Harry will be on his way. As for th application for the new stadium, I cant see how we will finance this in the current economic crisis, with attandances, in my opinion, likely to fall in general, due to the high cost of tickets, it may prove to be a very unwise move.
- Rob Hotspus, South London
Spurs have got themselves a Clock End for their new stadium - wherever did they pinch that idea from???
- Royston, highbury
A nice (small) stadium but a pipe dream of ending in the top four. Spurs can only realistically aspire to be in the europa cup. But don't worry - leave it Arsenal to represent north london on the big stage in the Champions League.
- Mac, Highbury
That very first comment is very healthy!!!.
It would seem there is a lot of green eyed begrudgers who do not want Spurs to prosper, either on the pitch or as a big club.
Daniel Levy is a shrewd financial operator and all the speculation about this project stretching their finances is just ignorance and jealously.
I'm sure the chairman is glad the hangers-on have left the boardroom and he is now able to plan the progress of the club with Joe Lewis and no other influences while on the pitch Harry can get on with winning something.
I for one think it's a very good project that will enhance the North Tottenham area and offer work to local people, both during the construction period and in running the complex afterwards.
It's ambitious and will do more for the regeneration of the area than Haringey Council has done in the last 100 years.
Tottenham supporters have suffered too long and a bit of success, a shiney new home and a few shiney trophies are not too far away.
- Kevin, London
Will be interesting too see how they fund this huge circus arena.
- Pj, London
The stadium is what we desperately need but it will be sad to leave what is a traditional ground with a wonderful atmosphere but we need to move with the times. If there is one legacy Levy will leave it will be this fantastic new stadia and the new kop will be the envy of other clubs and a great design idea. Certainly will put the libraries of the Emirates and Stamford Bridge to shame as we are able to create the atmosphere needed. And with 70,000 season ticket requests, filling the ground will be no problem at all. Levy has been criticised a fair amount over the years but he has always given to his managers what is required, made the club profitable and sound financially.
- Sd, WICKFORD
Surely the seats should be facing away from the pitch not towards it for entertainments sake.
- Nick,, Waltham Abbey, Essex
