Tottenham Hotspur owners ENIC have rejected two approaches to buy their 87 per cent stake following the departure of executive chairman Daniel Levy.
Amanda Staveley's PCP International Finance and a consortium called Firehawk Holdings Limited, led by Dr Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng, both made initial outreach to buy Spurs last week. But, in a statement, the north Londoners say both preliminary expressions of interest were "unequivocally rejected".
Staveley Set to Release Statement Over Spurs
“The Board of the Club and ENIC confirm that Tottenham Hotspur is not for sale and ENIC has no intention to accept any such offer to acquire its interest in the Club,” a Spurs statement read.
Former Newcastle United owner Staveley and Hong Kong-based Firehawk Holdings Limited are now both obligated under UK takeover rules to make a statement by October 5, regardless of whether they intend to bid or not.
Staveley is expected to release her statement imminently, with confirmation that she won't proceed. Although there may be caveats, if she confirms she has no plans to place an offer, Staveley can't change her position for six months.
Sources close to the Lewis family insist, as per the club statement, Tottenham is "not for sale". ENIC owns almost 87 per cent of the capital club. British businessman Joe Lewis and his family own the majority of ENIC, while around 30 per cent is held by Levy and his family.
Levy’s departure means the Lewis family are now taking a more hands-on role in running Spurs. Lewis' children Charlie and Vivienne are particularly involved, as is his grandson-in-law Nick Beucher, who is co-chief executive of Tavistock.
New non-executive chairman Peter Charrington and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham are viewed as the key and most influential day-to-day figures. Charrington already held several meetings with staff to assess the club prior to Levy's exit.
Since just over 13 per cent of Tottenham's non-ENIC shares are publicly traded, the club is duty bound to disclose expressions of interest, while potential suitors must also declare their intentions regardless of whether they bid.
Suggestions there is also a Qatari bidder waiting in the wings, following the failed attempt by Sheikh Jassim to buy Manchester United, are denied by sources.