TRUST NEW SEASON STATEMENT 2025 / 26
A new season, especially on the back of winning the Europa League, should be a time of excitement and optimism amongst the fanbase. While many see the appointment of Thomas Frank and his team as a positive move (albeit with a strong sense of gratitude and regret about the departure of Ange Postecoglou), much of the initial euphoria has faded, or evaporated, over recent weeks, despite last night’s valiant performance against PSG. The departure of Sonny to LA, the limited success over the last 25 years, patchy results in the transfer market, and mounting long-term injuries to our attack, have brought us back down to Earth with a bump.
Add to that the Club’s decision to restrict season ticket holders’ ability to share their tickets, meaning that anyone who wants a ticket will have to be a One Hotspur member (and pay £55/60 for the privilege) and it is understandable that our inbox shows the same old questions are being raised: The squad needs more quality and depth. Why aren’t the Club backing Thomas Frank? And why are supporters being taken for granted? Again.
Of course the window is still open and things may change, but that’s the perception of most of the supporters contacting us, and as Spurs fans, it’s a feeling many of us share.
Earlier this year the Trust’s Five Key Principles for Owners, were agreed with the Club: initially with Donna Marie Cullen and later with new CEO Vinai Venkatesham. We have surveyed our members twice as well as the wider fanbase and the scores are unacceptably low. You can read more here: Five Key Principles Survey.
We’ve presented the outcomes to the Club directors and given our view on what needs to change. With that in mind, here are the key areas we will be working on with the Club this season – or at least those we know about at this stage!
Commit to winning: Invest to the level needed to secure league and cup success.
We’ve encouraged more openness and transparency from the senior figures at Spurs so we’ve welcomed recent interviews with Daniel Levy and Vinai Venkatesham. They say that everyone is committed to winning; we need to see consistent evidence of this. There has to be a clear demonstration of an Invest for Success mindset pervading all aspects of the Club’s work. We support the maximisation of the stadium’s potential to raise revenue, but do we really see evidence of this in the transfer market?
Attract & retain talent: Build a transfer policy and competitive wages to secure top players.
Urge the Club to invest in the transfer fees and wages necessary to attract the players needed to fully back the manager and achieve success in the Premier League, the Champions League and domestic cups next season.
The evidence of the transfer window so far suggests that key players are either not being attracted or deals are not being concluded.
Future-proof success: Develop elite youth talent to strengthen the squad and sustain excellence.
This is an area the Club does comparatively well on, and one which receives higher scores on our survey, but it needs to be balanced with the recruitment of elite players who are ready to strengthen the first team. Currently it’s not clear that many academy players are ready for the first team and many have gone out on loan. As a result the squad for European games looks short of players.
Lead with integrity: Champion ethical standards, strong governance, and financial sustainability – reinvesting in the team while keeping tickets affordable.
We pay amongst the very highest ticket prices in the Premier League and across Europe. We achieved a match day and season ticket price freeze and will expect a freeze on UCL games too. There are lots of other ways that costs to supporters can be discreetly increased, so we will be vigilant in opposing these. There are plenty of other ways to raise additional monies, the stadium naming rights being just one.
Fans first: Engage, consult, and collaborate with supporters and their representatives to build loyalty, passion, and success on and off the pitch.
We have direct access to senior figures and department heads at the Club through set meetings and ad hoc communication so we will continue to work with the Club (and FAB) to offer advice in all areas affecting supporters. We will also lobby when we believe their decisions are unfair or work against the interests of fans.
Last season we were successful in achieving a season ticket and match day price freeze for the coming season, reinstating the Gold Cup Scheme, moving the time of the victory parade, improving the stadium screening experience for the Final, and helping to achieve a partial improvement on the offer to senior season ticket holders. We now look to this season to:
Remove the restriction on season ticket holders to only be able to share with One Hotspur Members. This change should not have been introduced in the first place and was against our advice. Allowing season ticket holders to share tickets amongst a small group of friends or family and allowing one-off transfers to similar builds commitment and support for the future. We are currently negotiating on how this should work to also stop misuse of tickets e.g. through touting.
Closely monitor the arrangements for increasing availability of senior concession season tickets. The Club have already raised the age at which we become eligible, decreased the discount given and, initially, stopped issuing any new senior concession season tickets. Through persistent lobbying from the Trust and the FAB as well as the impact of Save our Seniors’ protests, new tickets will be offered up to a cap. But key detail remains missing to assess the impact on fans. Our policy remains that the club should increase the number of senior concessions season tickets so that all who qualify can receive one.
Ensure the away ticket allocation is used by the named person. The loyalty point system only works if it is properly enforced. We support increased spot checks, and random use of in-person collection.
Introduce rolling QR codes and other measures to clamp down on away fans sitting in home areas at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Restore concessions for all cup games.
Enable children, young adults and seniors to buy concession tickets on Ticket Exchange.
Continue to develop ways for all fans to feel appreciated, with an increased sense of togetherness. For example, by listening to fans about which match day routines and songs matter to them, and encouraging more supporters to get involved in atmosphere initiatives. We know that Thomas Frank is keen to really engage supporters on matchdays and beyond so we should be pushing on an open door.
Honour the legends of the Club, on whose shoulders the current team and custodians stand. Statues matter to fans, as do murals, and we will press for more to be done in these areas. A club museum must be a priority: if there is room for a new hotel, if there is room for a go-karting track, there is room for a museum.
Ensure that Access Scheme members are not disadvantaged. Working in partnership with Spurs Ability, we will press the club to ensure that ticketing platforms are accessible to all supporters.
And finally we will continue to work with the dedicated staff at Spurs who respond so positively to the case work we bring to them, and this will of course continue during the season ahead. This will include individual ticketing issues, accessibility concerns, community initiatives, support with bereavement, European away fixtures, sanctions issues and so much more.
We will maintain our continued input as a critical friend to ensure that fans are at the heart of all decisions made. Because as we all know, football, without fans, is nothing
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