The Mirror

Scott Parker was stung after being booed by West Ham fans during his return to Upton Park with Tottenham, the club he joined after being relegated with the Hammers

Mohammed Kudus can expect a tasty reception when he takes to the pitch at London Stadium in a Tottenham Hotspur shirt. Few players have made the cross-capital switch from West Ham to Spurs or vice versa over the years.

While the rivalry between the clubs isn’t quite as hostile as the north London derby, it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted. Scott Parker experienced that at first hand after he made the same move as Kudus back in 2011.

Parker had been a Hammers favourite during his four seasons at Upton Park, being named ‘Hammer of the year’ three times. He also won the Football Writers’ Association player of the year award, despite being part of the West Ham team that finished at the foot of the Premier League.

Fearful of missing out on a place in the England squad for Euro 2012, relegation drove Parker to seek a new club and he joined Spurs for £6million. He said at the time: “Playing in the Euros was a massive factor.

“The last six months for me has been massive with England. I have not just been getting into squads, I have been playing. To get into the squad for the Euros would be massive for me and my career.

“I want to do everything I possibly can to get into that squad really. With the way it's gone for me over the last year, I felt like I needed to be playing in the Premier League.”

However, his hopes that West Ham fans would have understood his rationale for leaving the club were soon extinguished when he returned to Upton Park with Spurs. Parker, who gave away a penalty in Spurs’ 3-2 win, was left hurt after being booed by large sections of the crowd. He said: “I didn't expect the West Ham fans to boo me and obviously it was a little bit upsetting.

“I don't know why [they did it]. I don't know if it’s because I went to their local rivals... I'm not sure, but I just would have liked to think that maybe I would have got a better reception after what I did in my time here.

“I loved [Upton Park], the fans, and I loved the club. I had four fantastic years here and it will always be a club with a massive place in my heart. I was looking forward to coming back and I couldn't wait to go out there and play, so I was disappointed [to be booed].”

Parker and Kudus are two of just six players to have moved from West Ham to Spurs since 2003. The others were Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe, Frederick Kanoute and goalkeeper Jimmy Walker.

West Ham and Spurs meet in Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off. Amid unrest off the pitch, Hammers fans will be demanding a response after being thrashed 5-1 by Chelsea in their last home match. Meanwhile, Spurs are looking to build on a positive start to the season under new boss Thomas Frank.

Spurs made the shock decision to part ways with Daniel Levy having served as the club's chairman for 24 years - with Thomas Frank speaking about that decision in his latest press conference.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has admitted Daniel Levy's departure from the club was unexpected. Levy stepped down from his position as Spurs chairman last week, having been invited to leave the position he had held at the club since 2001 by majority owners ENIC, which is owned by the Lewis family trust.

Frank would go on record to pay tribute to the outgoing Spurs chief, saying Levy had built the foundations for the future. "I would say, I don't think anyone expected it, but a decision is made and we move forward," Frank admitted ahead of this weekend's clash with West Ham United.

"Daniel deserves massive praise. He has been here 24 years and he must be one of longest chairman that's been in the Premier League ever.

"The things he's built, the success he's been a massive part of, you can't praise enough and two big things is he has laid foundations for the future in terms of this fantastic training centre and the stadium. Both of them are at a level where we can compete with big clubs for the future."

The Spurs' head coach also admitted he had spoken with Levy following his exit - to say goodbye - but reiterated the commitment of majority owners ENIC despite ongoing takeover talk. Frank continued: "Yes, I've spoken to him and, of course, known Daniel, but only known him the last three months.

"Of course I spent more time with him, but it's been brief. I said thank you because it was not only him appointing me, but he had the decisive words and I will always be appreciative of that.

"It's not a new ownership, it is the same ownership but it's just the majority shareholders have more influence. And they are very committed to the club and want to build something good for the future.

"The main thing I can do to do my job well is focus on now and that is West Ham. Huge London derby."

Ange Postecoglou knew he was destined for the exit door at Tottenham despite winning the Europa League in what proved to be his final game for the club

Ange Postecoglou left his mark in the corridors of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - now he wants to do the same at the City Ground.

The Aussie breezed into his new job as Nuno Espirito Santo’s replacement not only talking big but also about returning the glory days to the club.

Postecoglou referenced ‘bringing joy to the people’ on the back of his last public appearance as he paraded the Europa League trophy to hundreds of thousands of delirious Spurs supporters three months ago. And he plans to do the same in the East Midlands.

He said: “I want to win trophies. That's what I've done my whole career - and that's what I want to try and do at Nottingham Forest. From that point of view, looking at the opportunity that exists here what I've seen over the last few years since the president (Evangelos Marinakis) took over, those ambitions are backed up with actions.

“So I was keen to go to a club that would give me that platform to continue the career I've had so far. That is: To continue winning things. That was important to me.

“Not that they're in a position to do that - but they have that ambition. And I love creating things that last. Every club I’ve been to I’d like to think I’d be welcomed back because I think I’ve left a mark. That’s what I want to do here.

“That’s what inspires and motivates me. Can I create a moment that will outlast my presence in any sort of organisation. And that’s going to drive me every single day.

“The joy for me in coming to this club is to win a trophy - not because it’s going to help me keep my job - but because I know how it’s going to make people feel.

“That’s why, when I finish my tenure here that I can come back and somewhere there’s something on the walls that says I was here.”

Postecoglou’s unveiling was the first time he had spoken in public following Spurs’s final game of the campaign - a defeat to Brighton on the final day of last season. He claimed he knew the sack was coming long before the club’s glory night in Bilbao.

He closed the chapter on that, saying: “Look I know it was coming - and I knew it was coming a long way out. Long before most people knew it was going to happen. But I didn’t want to tarnish the night, tarnish the parade or anything like that.

“I wasn’t going to let that happen because it wouldn’t have been fair on everyone else. I wanted my family to enjoy it and I enjoyed it, too. When you win something, you cherish it and celebrate it - and that’s what I did.

“I wanted everyone to look around and say there are moments that will stay with me forever. Special moments.”

Postecoglou was, however, repeatedly hit with the accusation that ‘Angeball’ had fallen flat as, despite Spurs’s Euro success, they hit the buffers in the Premier League finishing one place outside the drop zone.

Asked about the approach he was taking at his new club, Postecoglou said: “I do like my teams to play exciting football and score goals.

“I’m making no apologies for that. That's just the way I am and the way I want to see my teams play. I want to dominate the ball, I want to put pressure on the opposition when I score goals.

“But all of it with the end goal of winning football games. Because that's what excites me more than anything else. If you win football games, you can win trophies.”

Daniel Levy has left his role as Tottenham chairman after 24 years at the helm and Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked by the club earlier this year, has spoken about his time working under Levy

Ange Postecoglou has acknowledged he had minimal contact with Daniel Levy during his time at Tottenham as both figures embark on fresh starts in their careers.

Levy brought the Australian to North London in the summer of 2023, and following a fifth-place finish in his debut campaign after Harry Kane's departure to Bayern Munich just days before the season opener, Postecoglou delivered the Europa League in his second year to break the club's 17-year trophy drought under the chairman's stewardship.

Yet the Spurs manager's choice to focus on that European campaign at the expense of Premier League form with a depleted squad didn't sit well with the club's hierarchy, and Tottenham consequently slumped to 17th in the league table whilst fielding reserve teams.

Just weeks after the euphoria of the Lilywhites' first European silverware in 41 years, Postecoglou found himself dismissed and succeeded by Thomas Frank.

Merely three months later, Levy himself departed after the Lewis family implemented plans to revamp the club's organisational structure, with the 63-year-old stepping aside following nearly 25 years in charge.

Postecoglou, now managing Nottingham Forest, was questioned about his thoughts on Levy's exit from the club, as per Football.London.

"I don't think it's the kind of forum for me to speak about that at length," he said. "Again, I didn't have a great deal of interaction with Daniel. I tend to get on with my daily business and do what I need to do.

"He was there for a very long time. He invested a hell of a lot in the football club in terms of building it up to where it was.

"Obviously, he appointed me so I've got to be thankful for that. Hopefully I repaid him with winning a trophy which they haven't had in a long time."

Postecoglou also discussed his own exit from Spurs and how he sensed his tenure in north London was drawing to an end.

"It wasn't great, I knew it was coming so it wasn't a surprise," he said. "I knew it was coming a fair way before the final, but we won it and had the parade and had a great three days and I didn't want to tarnish that, but I knew it was done.

"From my perspective, I had the chance to process it. Whether I feel it was unjust, other people make those decisions, they make those determinations. That's up to them, you have to ask them their own reasoning for it.

"What I do know is I had two years where it was very, very challenging but we were with some fantastic people in the football department."

The 60 year old continued: "The supporters, we've put through some tough times, but there isn't a Spurs supporter that I come across now that doesn't want to hug me and take me home for dinner.

"So I must have done something right. I think ultimately that's what we do it for. I'm very proud of what we achieved there. It will always take a special place in my heart.

"How it ended, I don't really think about it a lot. To be fair, I've done it a couple of times myself. I left Celtic and I'm sure that they were disappointed when I left. You understand that's part of the business we're in. But that's okay. It's allowed me now to move into this (Forest) and maybe that's happened for a reason."

Graham Roberts wrote on social media that he is undergoing radiotherapy treatment and brachytherapy for prostate cancer, and his daughter Hollie is hoping to raise funs for the Prostate Cancer charity

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Graham Roberts, who was capped six times by England, has announced he is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

Roberts, 66, was a mainstay of the Spurs team in the 1980s, playing 278 times for the club between 1980 and 1986, earning three major honours. He also had spells with Rangers, Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion.

Roberts wrote on social media that he is hoping to raise money for the Prostate Cancer charity. "I'm undergoing radiotherapy treatment and brachytherapy for prostate cancer and would love to raise money for this charity," he said.

"This October my daughter is walking 5km each day and I am going to try and do as much as I can as well. Please donate to this." Spurs quote tweeted Roberts' post woith the words "We're all behind you Robbo."

Writing on the Prostate Cancer website, Roberts' daughter Hollie said: "My dad Graham Roberts is currently undergoing radiotherapy treatment and brachytherapy for prostate cancer.

"Prostate cancer kills one man every 45 minutes – that's half a football match. But it doesn't have to be this way. This October, I'm joining Prostate United by walking, 5km every day with my fellow football fans to help save men's lives.

"Dad is also going to try and walk each week as well after his treatment. Sponsor me to help fund lifesaving research for men and their families affected by this disease. Thank you."

Roberts was part of the Spurs side which won the FA Cup in 1981 and 1982, and captained Tottenham in the 1984 UEFA Cup final against Anderlecht, scoring a goal which forced the game into extra-time. He then scored from the penalty spot in the shootout as Spurs beat their Belgian opponents.

You can donate to Hollie's fundraising page here.

EXCLUSIVE: Jermain Defoe's unique Thomas Frank insight speaks volumes about Spurs manager

Thomas Frank has made a fast start to life as Tottenham Hotspur manager and one-time Spurs striker Jermain Defoe isn't surprised to see the Danish boss show his worth

Former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe saw what Thomas Frank is capable of when sitting in on one of his Brentford training sessions and has backed the manager to thrive in North London. Frank took over from Ange Postecoglou in June, bringing one-time Spurs youth coach Justin Cochrane in as his assistant, and hit the ground running with two wins from the first two league games before a narrow defeat against Bournemouth.

“[Spurs’] squad's strong. Obviously the [James] Maddison injury, the [Dejan] Kulusevski injury, it doesn't help, but with this manager he's a top, top manager,” Defoe said.

“I was lucky enough that I went into Brentford… two years ago, just to watch training and pick his brains. I was still on my A licence and he was really impressive.

“Not only that but away from football he's such a nice guy, approachable. You go up and down the country you see coaches put on good sessions, everybody puts on good sessions, but I think managing people is so important and he does that well.

“I hope he does well. The players look really fit, sharp, but we'll see what happens - it's a long season.”

Assistant manager Cochrane, who worked under Frank at Brentford, was linked with the top job at the Gtech Community Stadium before deciding to head across London. “He started at Tottenham in the academy so he's done his work, he's been on the grass for years,” Defoe said of Cochrane.

“Now he's at the level where he's a top coach. I've known Justin for years, obviously he went to Man United, and he had offers. He's still doing stuff with England, so he's got that experience and he knows what it's about.

“I just hope they have a good season because there's just been so much noise around Tottenham. Struggling domestically last season but winning that European trophy, obviously Daniel [Levy] leaving. It's a big year for the club.”

Defoe was speaking alongside another former Spurs striker, Bobby Zamora, at the launch of the new Sky Bet x British Heart Foundation ‘Red Boot’ trophy. The trophy - awarded to the top scorer across the entire EFL this season - will raise £50,000 for each goal that player scores for the British Heart Foundation.

“We are both hoping there's a couple of strikers out there who bang a load of goals, 30 odd, at least £1.5million we want donated towards the British Heart Foundation,” Zamora said. “So that's the idea and whoever wins that will win... the trophy and have the accolade of having helped donate so much money.”

Zamora would have won the trophy twice in his playing career, hitting 28 league goals for Brighton in the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons before moving to Tottenham, while Aleksandar Mitrovic’s record-breaking 43-goal 2021-22 campaign would have helped raise a whopping £2.15m. Defoe has a personal connection to the campaign, too, having been on the pitch when Bolton star Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch during a 2012 FA Cup game.

“You look at some of the figures, every 90 minutes there's six people in the UK that will suffer from a cardiac arrest,” said Defoe, who visited Muamba in hospital after that incident. “It happens a lot, we've seen with other players as well, so that's what we're trying to do, really - to create an army that can learn CPR and save lives.”

Former England stars Jermain Defoe and Bobby Zamora unveil the new Sky Bet x British Heart Foundation ‘Red Boot’ trophy – set to be awarded to the EFL’s top scorer this season, with every goal raising £50,000 to fund lifesaving CPR training and CureHeart research.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank calls for two Premier League rule changes - 'It's not right'

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has given his view on what changes he would like to see in football and highlighted handballs as an area that could be improved in the Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank would like to see two significant changes made to the laws used in the Premier League. The Danish coach identified the rules around handballs as an area he would like to see altered when asked for his input on how football could be improved.

Frank was appointed Spurs head coach earlier this summer, leaving Brentford after almost seven years in charge. The 51-year-old got off to a quick start as he claimed comfortable victories over Burnley and Manchester City before slipping up against Bournemouth before the international break.

Handball has already proven a contentious topic in the Premier League this term with an incident involving Marcos Senesi in Liverpool's win over Bournemouth hitting the headlines. The VAR has been involved in decisions around handball in Nottingham Forest vs Brentford and Arsenal vs Manchester United, too.

For Frank, the current laws are too punitive in how strictly a ball hitting the arm is policed. He believes that a penalty is too severe a punishment for what can prove an unfortunate, accidental touch.

"I would take out the handball rule as for me it’s not right," Frank told BetMGM. "If there’s a handball and it touches your arm in the penalty area, you are giving the biggest chance to the opponent just because it ‘touches’ your arm.

"Of course, if you’re standing on the goalline and you try to save it like a goalkeeper in the old days that’s different but I simply don’t understand how if it just touches a player’s arm, and it touches their arm in certain areas, it gives the opportunity for the biggest chance in the game.

"It’s a rule that has to be changed to improve the game and make it fairer.”

Frank would also like to see timeouts added into games. “I’d have a timeout in each half,” he added.

"From a coaching perspective, I think it would be lovely to have an opportunity during the game to speak to the players and be able to adjust something."

In terms of his new job, Frank is happy to be working with the Spurs squad and already believes he has learned a lot. “The players have been fantastic from my first day here and I’m learning more and more about them every day," he said.

"It’s about how they react to certain situations, what works and what doesn’t and also what they are like as people and also as players. I think all head coaches and managers have their own way of doing things and I’m no different. The one thing I always think about coaching philosophy is do what you believe in – I’m me, I can’t be anyone else and I need to do what I believe in both on and off the pitch.

“I need to come across the way I am and I think that’s the best way for players to buy into what you’re trying to get across in the way you do things."

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a deal to hand themselves a huge cash injection after a chaotic few months at the club, with Daniel Levy departing as chairman last week

Tottenham Hotspur have secured a significant financial boost following a tumultuous few months at the club. The summer months started with jubilation as Spurs won the Europa League, but the decision was still made to sack Ange Postecoglou, with Thomas Frank hired as his replacement.

Just three months after playing a pivotal role in a major exit, it was Levy himself who left – with a shocking club statement last week confirming his time as chairman was over. Since then, takeover rumours have intensified, forcing Spurs to issue another statement revealing they had turned down two offers.

Between the departures of Postecoglou and Levy, Spurs experienced an unprecedented transfer window. Big names like Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus were brought in, but unsuccessful attempts to sign Piero Hincapie, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Gibbs-White, Nico Paz and Savinho somewhat overshadowed these acquisitions.

However, merely being linked with such high-calibre players perhaps indicates where the club's ambitions lie, especially as a cash injection from Tottenham's majority shareholders, ENIC, appeared to arrive over the summer.

Now, a second substantial sum appears to be on the horizon, with Bloomberg reporting that Spurs have raised £90million through a receivables financing deal with Macquarie Group Ltd.

The club have struck a deal with an Australian lender to exchange future broadcasting rights income for a lump sum, according to insiders. It's also been suggested that these rights are linked to funds due to the club from the Premier League from December 2025 to May 2026.

This revelation comes on the heels of CEO Vinai Venkatesham's public discussion about the club's changes, including clarifying the Lewis family's position amidst rumours of a complete sale.

In a comprehensive interview shared on Spurs' official channels, he stated: "Well, first and foremost, I know the Lewis family really well. I think it's important for our supporters to know that they're very, very passionate about Tottenham Hotspur and they're ambitious for the club.

"And when I talk about their ambition, what they're really focused on is ensuring that everything that we do across the complete breadth of the club really centres back and is focused on giving our men's team and our women's team the best chance to be successful on the pitch over the long term.

"So that's their laser focus, all around being successful on the pitch. They know, of course, that we operate in a very competitive environment and that there are a number of other teams that have the exact same ambitions we have to compete to win the biggest trophies in the game.

"They're also focused on stability. They know there's been lots of change at the club, and now it's time for some calm and for some stability. Finally they believe and trust in the people that we have working in the organisation."

Tottenham legend Harry Kane has been quizzed about the shock news of Daniel Levy's departure from the club last week after almost 25 years at the helm in north London

Harry Kane has paid tribute to the 'fantastic' job that Daniel Levy did at Tottenham following the unexpected news that he had left his post with the north London outfit last week.

A statement announcing that Levy would be standing down from his role as executive chairman after almost 25 years at the helm was made public last Thursday, though it was later revealed that Levy had actually been removed from his position by the club's majority shareholders, the Lewis family.

Levy called the shots at Spurs for over two decades and garnered a reputation as a fiercely difficult negotiator; something Kane discovered back in 2021 when interest from Manchester City failed to yield a move. The Spurs academy graduate did depart in the summer of 2023 to Bayern Munich and showed his class when he was asked about Levy's exit while on England duty.

“Obviously it was a bit of a surprise, if I’m honest,” Kane told reporters. “I didn’t expect it, didn’t see that coming. Daniel has been a fantastic chairman for Tottenham in the 20-or-so years he’s been there. Considering where the club was and where it is now, I think there's been a big change, not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well.

“At any stage there’s always going to be change in clubs, and change in the higher positions.”

Levy played a significant role in transforming Tottenham into one of the Premier League's elite players off the pitch but it was the club's performance on it in recent years that prompted the Lewis family to act. Spurs won just two trophies throughout Levy's near 25-year tenure and his failure to build on a period where the club challenged for the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final during Mauricio Pochettino's reign still rankles among the fanbase.

Despite protests against Levy from fans, his exit was still a big surprise and Kane admits he is none the wiser as to the reasons why the former Spurs supremo is no longer in power.

“Obviously I don’t know too much about why or what happened,” the England captain added on Levy's exit. “All I can say is I wish Daniel all the best in whatever’s next for him. We obviously built a relationship over the time we had together. I'm sure at some stage we’ll catch up. Overall for Tottenham it’s a new chapter they're trying to create now.”

Ange Postecoglou had been tipped for the Manchester United job but is reportedly set to be confirmed as Nottingham Forest's head coach imminently, following Nuno Espirito Santo's exit

It hasn’t taken long for Ange Postecoglou to return to the Premier League, with Nottingham Forest set to appoint the former Tottenham head coach after sacking Nuno Espirito Santo. Postecoglou's arrival at the City Ground is will be confirmed imminently.

That will see him take to the dugout for Forest's visit to Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday, with Postecoglou to be joined by several of his former Spurs coaching staff. The 60-year-old has been without a job since his bombshell sacking in June.

His dismissal came exactly two years after his Spurs appointment, despite him winning the Europa League. But the Australian was not short of options as he mulled over his next managerial role over the summer.

According to reports, he rejected a job offer from Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli and Turkish giants Fenerbahce. The Super Lig side recently sacked Jose Mourinho after just over a year in charge due to club bosses wanting “better football.”

The Istanbul club were understood to have held talks with Postecoglou, as well as former Italian national team boss Luciano Spalletti, who also declined the offer. That is because Postecoglou wanted another crack at the Premier League.

Fox Sports News’ Robbie Slater had said: “He wants to go back to England, I know that. Graham Arnold met up with him recently, and had a great conversation with him, and he wants to go back to the Premier League. We know Tottenham didn’t have a great season in respect to their Premier League position, 17th. But they did win the Europa League, that’s a big thing.”

The former Spurs head coach was lined up as a candidate for Forest following Nuno’s departure after his rift with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and new global head of football Edu.

The Portuguese risked the Greek businessman’s wrath when he went public about their souring relationship. And a 3-0 loss to West Ham proved the final nail in the coffin, despite Nuno’s success in Nottingham, having already had a high-profile argument on the sidelines with Marinakis after a game late last season.

Being appointed as Forest boss will give Postecoglou the chance to compete in the Europa League again. And Forest’s highly-divisive owner has made no secret of his admiration for the Greek-born tactician. While presenting Postecoglou with an award earlier this year in Greece, he said: “What I want to say about Ange is that he has spoken about Greece many times, he is proud to be Greek and in the great success he had with Tottenham by winning the Europa League, he spoke about Greece.

“A man who not only does not hide his origin but is also proud of it. What he achieved, he did with a team that has not won any titles, it has had a very difficult time in recent years. In this huge success that the whole world saw, he promoted Greece. We must thank him especially for this and we wish him well, although we are sure that he will do well as he has the ability. Wherever he goes, the successes will come.”

Despite Forest having been his likeliest destination all along, Manchester United had also been described as an option for him. That first required Ruben Amorim to depart the club after a hugely difficult start to the season, despite spending heavily on new signings in an effort to change their fortunes.

“When you look at it, I wouldn’t rule out Manchester United the way things are going with Amorim," Slater had told Fox Sports. “I think those three clubs, United, West Ham, Forest look dodgy in respect to their managers."

However, despite Postecoglou coming out on top when he faced Amorim in the Europa League final, the Australian’s poor domestic season was what led to his Spurs sacking, and was unlikely to have filled the Red Devils hierarchy with confidence given his Spurs side finished even lower than their worst ever Premier League campaign.

Postecoglou was also linked with the West Ham job, though Graham Potter appears to have saved his skin with a win over Forest to lift the Hammers off the bottom of the table.

There is a chance that a return to poor results after the international break may prove to be the tipping point and potentially lead to the Englishman’s sacking, though Postecoglou will no longer be waiting in the wings.