Tottenham’s surprise decision to part ways with Ange Postecoglou has raised eyebrows, but Daniel Levy’s silence on the matter has spoken even louder. Here are three possible reasons Levy has stayed silent on Postecoglou’s sacking at Spurs.
Tottenham Hotspur confirmed the sacking of Ange Postecoglou on 6 June for performance-related reasons, following a poor run of league form that saw the Australian coach pick up 78 points from his last 66 Premier League matches.
The decision meant Postecoglou became the 15th Tottenham manager to be dismissed under Daniel Levy since the chairman took charge in 2001.
It also ended the tenure of the only manager to deliver silverware to the club in the last 17 years, following Spurs’ triumph in the UEFA Europa League.
Understandably, Postecoglou’s sacking has drawn a mixed reaction from the Tottenham fanbase, many of whom did not believe the sacking was justified. Spurs’ official statement insisted the decision had not been made lightly, stressing it was not an emotional call.
However, one notable absence in that statement was any word from Daniel Levy himself – something that raised suspicion, especially given that the Spurs chairman has made a habit of addressing fans in such moments.
From Ryan Mason’s departure to previous managerial exits, Levy’s comments have been a consistent feature. So why the silence now?
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Daniel Levy may be preparing his Tottenham exit
It may seem a stretch to suggest Daniel Levy is heading for the exit door at Tottenham, but the lack of his voice in the club’s announcement has inevitably fuelled that very speculation.
After all, if a chairman cannot bring himself to acknowledge the sacking of a manager who won the club their first trophy in nearly two decades, it begs the question – is he on his way out?
Back in 2023, The Telegraph reported that Levy would not step down from his role until he had succeeded at the club. With a European trophy now secured under Postecoglou, some are wondering whether that counts as success in Levy’s book – and whether he is now preparing to depart on what he may see as a high.
Of course, the reality is more complex. With Levy holding a 30% stake in ENIC, walking away is not so straightforward.
But talk of a shifting power dynamic within the club has grown louder, especially after ENIC director Peter Charrington was recently installed as a non-executive director at Spurs. The suggestion is clear – major internal changes could be coming, and a new chairman may well be one of them.
Postecoglou sacking may have gone against Daniel Levy’s wishes
Another plausible theory behind Daniel Levy’s silence is that the decision to sack Postecoglou may not have been one he supported.
While Levy remains the most powerful individual at the club, his control is not absolute. He owns just 30% of ENIC, while the majority lies with shareholders and the Joe Lewis family trust. If he was in favour of keeping Postecoglou but was outvoted, it could explain why he did not issue a statement.
While that might be the case, some reports have suggested that Postecoglou was not a signing that Levy was completely sold on.
Instead, it was Scott Munn, the club’s chief football officer, who is believed to have convinced Levy to bring in the Australian manager in the first place.
If Ange Postecoglou’s arrival was not driven by Levy, then it is possible that the club’s chairman did not want to issue a statement on a manager he was not totally sold on.
That could very well be another reason why he distanced himself from the announcement altogether.
Daniel Levy is avoiding backlash from Tottenham fans
There is also the simple theory that Daniel Levy did not include a statement because he feared the backlash. His popularity among Tottenham fans is at an all-time low, and any public comment may have only worsened tensions.
Levy has long been a target of supporter protests, and with many still bitter over the club’s lack of sustained success, there is a growing dissatisfaction with his leadership.
Thomas Frank of Brentford has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Postecoglou, and there appears to be an appetite for the Thomas Frank move among Spurs fans.
Many have pointed to Frank’s work at Brentford as evidence that he could be the right fit for Spurs going forward.