The Trust has published the results of its latest Five Principles Survey, conducted in January 2026, and the findings point to a stark and troubling conclusion: supporter satisfaction with the Club’s ownership has fallen to its lowest level since the survey began.
The January 2026 survey follows previous editions carried out in February 2025 and June 2025. While earlier surveys showed modest movement in certain areas – even in the wake of last season’s Europa League triumph – the latest results mark a sharp and comprehensive decline across all five principles.
From the point at which the Five Principles were first agreed by the Trust membership they have been agreed by the Club’s Board – both the former and current iterations – as suitable and appropriate measures of the direction of the football club.
Key Findings – January 2026 (Scores out of 10)
Commit to Winning
Invest to the level needed to secure league and cup success
Score: 1.65
Supporters’ confidence in the Club’s ambition has collapsed to its lowest point yet. This score reflects deep frustration with what fans perceive as insufficient investment to compete consistently at the top level, particularly when measured against domestic and European rivals. Regardless of whether funds have been made available, these have not translated into transfer signings that “move the needle” towards sustained improvement in Premier League results.
Spurs fans have seen just four home league wins in the last year. The club changed managers in the summer with the stated aim of competing on multiple fronts, but it’s hard for many fans to see that we are any closer to this aim.
Attract & Retain Talent
Build a transfer policy and competitive wages to secure top players
Score: 1.94
Faith in the Club’s ability to attract and retain elite players remains extremely low. The decline from previous surveys suggests growing concern that Tottenham is falling further behind in the transfer market, both in recruitment strategy and wage competitiveness. Comments by Vinai Venkatesham, published in the match programme on 17 January 2026, committing to “a wage structure that supports our ambition” are a welcome first step in acknowledging the problem. We continue to push the executive leadership to provide evidence of meeting this ambition. While there are some glimmers of hope with new signings, after recent transfer experiences, supporters have lost confidence in the Club’s ability to attract the necessary level of talent.
Future-Proof Success
Develop elite youth talent to strengthen the squad and sustain excellence
Score: 2.96
Although still the highest-rated of the five principles, this score has fallen dramatically compared with 2025. While supporters continue to value youth development, there is a clear sense that reliance on potential alone cannot compensate for shortcomings elsewhere in squad building. The apparent lack of a route from the Spurs Academy to the first team likely contributes to low scores against this principle, as well as concern that our most successful loanees may not return to the Club because of a perceived lack of first team opportunity.
Lead with Integrity
Champion ethical standards, strong governance, and financial sustainability – reinvesting in the team while keeping tickets affordable
Score: 2.20
This significant drop indicates that earlier goodwill generated by price freezes and improved communication has dissipated, whilst higher prices in the Champions League have counted against the Club. Evidence for this is provided in the visibly high number of empty seats in the stadium for matches that should sell out with a reasonable pricing strategy. This makes it even easier for away fans to access home areas, further ruining atmosphere. Fans are increasingly unconvinced that financial sustainability is being matched by meaningful reinvestment in the first team and are choosing not to purchase match tickets. On a more positive note, supporters appreciate the Club’s commitment to equality, disability and inclusion, environmental and community commitments and to financial probity.
Fans First
Engage, consult, and collaborate with supporters and their representatives
Score: 1.90
After showing the most improvement in mid-2025, this principle has now fallen back sharply. The result suggests that supporters feel listening has not translated into tangible, lasting change, leaving trust and confidence severely eroded. Measures taken by the Club to restrict ticket sharing and remove supporters from the Cup Guarantee Scheme (albeit now partially rescinded) have been seen as penal, especially when matches continue to not sell out. These changes, brought in disregarding Trust input or in once case, not seeking it at all, result in an increased sense of disconnect between the club and fans. This is the opposite of what is desired by all groups and we remain committed to supporting the Club to rectify this.
A Clear Downward Trend
Charts accompanying the survey results show a consistent and worrying decline in scores across the last three surveys (February 2025, June 2025, and January 2026), alongside a continued increase in response numbers, reinforcing the strength and representativeness of the findings. More fans are engaging with the survey, and they are doing so with growing dissatisfaction.
Chart showing scores of last three surveys in Feb 25, Jun 25 and Jan 26
The Trust’s Perspective
The Trust believes these results send an unambiguous message.
“These scores represent an all-time low in supporter confidence in the Club’s ownership. Not one of the five principles comes close to an acceptable level, and every area has deteriorated significantly since last summer.
“Even the Europa League success of 2025 provided only a temporary uplift. Supporters are now judging the ownership on long-term strategy, squad quality, competitiveness, and delivery – and the verdict is clear.
“Fans want success that is sustainable, credible, and ambitious. They want a Club that matches its world-class infrastructure with world-class decision-making, and that genuinely puts supporters at the heart of its future. Whilst the Club acknowledges that it cannot exist without its supporters, the actions it has taken in the past have not always been commensurate with this statement. We ask that the Club follows through this commitment in its interactions with supporters at all levels. Every communication should be considered through the lens of supporters to ensure they feel that they play a vital role in the success of the football club.”
The Trust has shared these findings with Tottenham Hotspur’s directors as part of its ongoing dialogue with the Club. With a new CEO and managerial changes having taken place over the past year, supporters are increasingly impatient to see meaningful progress reflected both on and off the pitch.
Next Steps
THST thanks all supporters who took part in the January 2026 survey and encourages continued participation in future editions. The Trust remains committed to holding the Club’s leadership accountable to the Five Principles and believes that genuine engagement, ambition, and investment are essential if confidence is to be rebuilt.
The message from supporters is clear: change needs to lead to sustained improvement across the Club’s operations – on and off the pitch. Only decisive action and a renewed commitment to these principles will begin to restore trust and belief in the direction of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.