Jamie Redknapp claimed that Tottenham were a 'mess' when Lord Alan Sugar sold his majority stake to Enic and Daniel Levy in 2001, leaving the ex-Spurs chairman furious
Lord Alan Sugar has threatened to SUE both Sky Sports and Jamie Redknapp after the pundit branded Tottenham a 'mess' when he sold the club in 2001. Former Spurs midfielder Redknapp was working alongside ex-Chelsea forward Gianfranco Zola to provide analysis of Tottenham's 3-0 win away to West Ham on Saturday.
The Premier League match marked Spurs' first game since Daniel Levy left his role as chairman in a stunning announcement. Levy had been running the show since Enic, a company in which he has a significant share, purchased a majority stake in Tottenham from Sugar 24 years ago.
Electronics mogul Sugar was in charge of Spurs for a decade, overseeing their FA Cup win in 1991 and the League Cup victory in 1999. During Levy's time in charge, the club also lifted two trophies and moved into a new £1.2billion stadium as well as a state-of-the-art training ground.
Discussing the 63-year-old's shock exit, a decision made by Tottenham's new-look hierarchy, Redknapp criticised the state in which Sugar left the club and praised the 'great job' that Levy has done. "I have been critical of Daniel Levy, there were a few highs I didn't like in how he operated," Redknapp, 52, said ahead of kick-off.
"But in terms of the training ground, the facilities, the infrastructure and [building] one of the best football stadiums in the world, he has done a great job there... You think back to Alan Sugar, how he left the club was a complete mess.
"Daniel Levy has left it in a really great way and [chief executive] Vinai [Venkatesham] will know that, and the people that are in charge now will really look at this club and think it can go forward."
Just 21 minutes after Sky posted a clip of Redknapp's comments on X, formerly Twitter, Sugar responded with the threat of legal action. "Jamie Redknapp is a double barrel idiot. He talks a load of rubbish.
"He said when Daniel Levy took over Spurs Alan Sugar left the club in a right mess. He and Sky will be hearing from my lawyers Monday @redknapp."
Do you agree with Jamie Redknapp? Have your say in the comments section.
The account that Sugar tagged belongs to Harry Redknapp, Jamie’s father. Sugar got it right in a subsequent post, warning: "I am coming after you @MrJamieRedknapp idiot."
Mirror Football have contacted Sky Sports for comment.
Sugar continued watching Sky's coverage of the evening clash, ranting about VAR after Spurs had a goal in the first half controversially disallowed for a foul. Thomas Frank's side went on to win 3-0 thanks to second-half goals from Pape Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven.