Thomas Frank has expressed his confidence in the backing he’s received from the influential Lewis family in the wake of Daniel Levy’s bombshell departure. The sudden exit of Levy, who served as executive chairman for 24 years, left staff shocked and was part of a restructuring initiated by the Lewis family, who control ENIC, the company that owns the north London club.
The new power players at Tottenham are siblings Vivienne and Charles Lewis, children of former Spurs owner Joe Lewis, along with Nick Beucher, who is married to Vivienne’s daughter Joanna. Despite being taken aback by Levy’s departure, Frank has already felt the support from the owners, who are anticipated to invest in the team to help them compete with their high-spending rivals.
“I’ve spoken to a few from the Lewis family and Peter Charrington, the new non-executive chairman, so there’s been good, constructive conversations and I feel the backing and they’re happy,” said the Danish manager.
“I think it’s fair to say things have gone quite quickly, so I’m also quite convinced that in the next couple of months I will be more aware of the future plans.
“Hopefully, we will make them together. I think that’s the best way to do it. Everything I sense, I feel and I’ve been told is positivity and backing.”
Frank only worked with Levy for three months before the Premier League’s longest-serving chairman departed, with chief executive Vinai Venkatesham now overseeing day-to-day operations at Tottenham.
“Daniel deserves massive praise, he was here 24 years,” said Frank. “The things he’s built, the success he’s been a massive part of, you can’t praise that enough.
“He’s laid the foundation for the future in terms of a fantastic world-class training centre and a world-class stadium. Both those two are at a top level so we can build from there to hopefully compete with the best clubs in the future.”
Spurs kick off the post-Levy chapter with a London derby against West Ham on Saturday evening.
Frank will be missing striker Dominic Solanke, who continues to be sidelined with an ankle problem, but he will have new arrivals Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani available to make their bow after completing late transfers.
The fixture will also see Mohammed Kudus return to the London Stadium following his £55million switch across the capital to the Hammers’ bitter rivals, with a frosty welcome anticipated for the Ghana international.
West Ham have also announced they will prohibit half-and-half scarves from the encounter and Frank supports that stance.
“I guess it’s a little bit odd between two clubs that maybe don’t like each other that much,” he said. “They’re probably not selling that many so the one who came up with that idea probably isn’t the world’s most wealthy guy.”
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