Daniel Levy's closest confidant has left Tottenham in a potential blow for the long-serving chairman. Donna-Maria Cullen has stepped down from the club's board of directors after serving as an executive director and long-term advisor to Levy.
Cullen's departure is expected to be part of widespread change at the Premier League club over the coming months. Former Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham has started in the same role at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. An overhaul of the top brass may even include the sacking of head coach Ange Postecoglou. Some reports suggest that the axe could fall on the Australian over the coming days, even after he guided his team to Europa League glory and the club's first trophy in 17 years.
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Cullen has been on the Spurs board since 2006 and is considered one of the closest confidants to Levy. Criticism over Levy's stewardship of the club has sometimes been aimed at Cullen, who is also a trustee of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.
In a statement released by Spurs, Cullen said: “This has been such a hard decision to make. The club has been my life for the past three decades. I have had the privilege of working with Daniel, whose vision and energy has driven the club forward, and so many talented and wonderful colleagues.
“It has been quite some journey, starting at White Hart Lane, with a brief stay at Wembley and finally our new home - amazing memories home and away. Ending this season with the Europa League trophy was a dream come true.
“The time is now right for me to gather more time for myself and my family, whom I thank for all their support over the years. I shall spend the coming months ensuring there is a smooth handover with my staff. Thank you all. I wish everyone at the club all the success in the world.”
Levy added: “Donna has made an immense contribution to the Club, over an extensive period. Her diverse responsibilities grew significantly and replacing her roles with a single individual will be impossible.
“Her daily input will be greatly missed, however she fully deserves to take time for herself, and I know that we shall be able to call upon her advice when needed. We wish her well for the future.”
Meanwhile, speculation over Postecoglou's future continues to persist. Spurs lifted their first piece of silverware since the 2008 League Cup by beating United in the Europa League final. However, an extremely tough Premier League campaign saw them finish 17th.