New York Yankees’ £450M Tottenham Bid

[Biggs]

THE owners of baseball giants New York Yankees are looking into buying Spurs for a massive £450million.

Powerhouse Yankees are said to be weighing up an offer for a major stake in the White Hart Lane outfit.


The interest comes after Yankees ­owner George Steinbrenner died aged 80 last week – and control of the fabled club, who have won 27 World Series, passed down to his sons Hal and Hank.


Hank, a former college soccer player, expressed an interest in buying the club in the early 1990s.


Back then, the Yankees were ­approached to buy a 33 per cent ­interest in Tottenham for around £20m – but they passed up the option and it is a decision that Hank still regrets.


Now he is said to be rekindling his interest, following the lead of Denver ­Nuggets basketball owner Stan Kroenke, who has snapped up 29.9 per cent of the shares at north London rivals Ars*nal.


Coincidentally, Spurs are in the Big Apple to play New York Red Bulls this week.


The Steinbrenners have no interest in adding to their sports portfolio by ­ buying into the NBA, NFL or NHL.
But Tottenham’s rise in recent seasons, ­culminating in their fourth-place finish and the prospect of Champions League football this season, makes them an ­attractive proposition.


Asked about buying into another sports franchise, Hank said: “The only thing would be a major soccer team in ­Europe, preferably in the Premier League. That’s always a possibility for me.”


Current owner Joe Lewis, 73, could be tempted. The Bahamas-based, East End-born businessman is worth £1.5billion but he and his partners lost £500m in the Bear Stearns bank collapse.


Spurs’ share price has also plunged from 88p last August to 63.5p but a US takeover could prove a lottery for their fans as American owners in the Premier League enjoy mixed reputations.


Randy Lerner, who owns the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, is regarded warmly by Aston Villa supporters and Ellis Short is also well liked at Sunderland.


But the Glazer ­family, who run American Football’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, face hostility for the way they do business at ­Manchester United.


Liverpool co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks – the latter also owns NHL side Dallas Stars and baseball team Texas Rangers – are also hugely unpopular at Liverpool.


If the Steinbrenners were to buy into Tottenham, it would be positive news for boss Harry Redknapp who would see his transfer kitty bolstered by fresh funds.


The Yankees are the biggest payers in baseball – with an annual wage bill ­topping £130m.


Alex Rodriguez is the sport’s highest-paid player after signing a ­ten-year £178m contract in 2007.


CC Sabathia makes £16m a season, Derek Jeter £14m and Mark ­Teixeira £12m.
They are baseball’s top-four highest earners and their salaries dwarf those earned by top Premier League stars.


In the past, though, Redknapp has ­opposed foreign ownership.


Last season, he said: “With more ­foreign owners you get fewer British managers.


“Every club will have a foreign owner eventually and the lifespan of managers will get less and less.”

  not sure what i think about this... more money is always good. But if it aint broke don't fix it

[d1nkys]

Already got the money, the fanbase and just got into the Champions League... What we need them for? f**k the yanks 

[Dom07Tottenham]

How about money money money, would you turn down millions of dollars honestly, money talks.

[dedleysting]

Why would Levy sell up when we are on the up, thanks to his good business sense and strong willed attitude towards not paying over the odds for players and keeping to a tight wage budget.
 
Tottenham is working, i can't see it changing

[YidJoe24]

How about money money money, would you turn down millions of dollars honestly, money talks.

Yeah...... look at what yank money did for Liverpool and United, they dont have fans protesting every season to get rid of the owners do they, waaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiit.................

[IIBigEdII]

Isnt it roughly the same amount of do$h needed for the new stadium n stuffs?
 
and for 30% or jus under its a good deal imo - woudnt like to see them gain control tho
 
and just possibly we could keep the stadium name

[millers-tach]

How about money money money, would you turn down millions of dollars honestly, money talks.

 
You see that is the problem people asume money means success and that billionaire owners spend. Very few even actually put their hand in their own wallet (thats helps to become a billionaire in the first place) .
 
All the funds spent on players would still be financed by the club so these guys wouldn't put a penny of their own money into the venture. For them it is simply a business decision.
 
Yanks- No Thanks

[d1nkys]

Money does not mean success.. City spent about a Gazillion pound since they been taken over and what has that got them so far? Madrid also spent a bucket load of cash and they went home trophyless.

[Dom07Tottenham]

With financial backing we could get the players we need to get past the qualifying stage, and compete with the top four season in season out. With investment I would do it only if there aren't major changes to playing or coaching staff, and Levy would stay, and we definitely shouldn't do a City with a massive revolving door off players, buying every big name they can and sending their former stars packing.


Levy is very wise accountant, he wouldn't go out and splurge spending it frivelously, and end up with huge debts, we don't need more than 3 top quality players, a transfer kitty of 40m would be enough.  Without financial backing we never will be able to attract top quality players, as we can't break the wage structure, which is based on our current income, and to maximise profit margins, but you need money to make money, the club is at a turning point and have the opportunity to go forward leaps and bounds, champions league qualification and getting into the top four again this season is a must, otherwise how can we afford the new stadium, we need this to have growth and to make sure our new stadium is sold out, otherwise last years result was pointless.


Big name players don't play purely for the love of the game anymore, they want a decent pay cheque too, and I am not talking about throwing money at anyone either. Our top earners are on 60k, I am only suggesting we raise the bar higher to around 80k if we get in two really quality big name players, Torres like, the Dzekos, Ozils, this in turn will attract other stars in the future.


Firstly clear out the deadwood Keane, Hutton, Jenas, and regrettably O'Hara if he wont stay, we can't keep paying for Woodgate and King if they both aren't playing, attract two huge name players, one starting striker, one AM, and they can earn up to around 80k, and a top youth CB, who won't cost much in wages, but around 10m transfer fee.


You guys are scared by the risks involved, but there has to be some element of risk to get a significant gain, if managed wisely which Levy would, this can only be a positive step, this new stadium of 56000 fans, isn't on the cheap side and is easy going to cost around 80m minimum.

[taimedowne]

Why would Levy sell up when we are on the up, thanks to his good business sense and strong willed attitude towards not paying over the odds for players and keeping to a tight wage budget.
 
Tottenham is working, i can't see it changing

Spurs are owned by Enic, Daniel Levy works for them he is not our owner. I believe they also own Glasgow Rangers. I hope that should this deal come off it would be a stake holding situation rather than a take over it would be great to have a large investment in the club but we certainly dont need a management restructure. What we have at the moment is working well it would be daft to travel on the path taken by Man Utd or Liverpool.

[Dom07Tottenham]

I completely agree, would only be good for the club to move forward, you need financial backing.

[CountPuchi]

You do know, financial backing means the whole coaching staff gets changed. We get another Real madrid/chelsea/Mancs situation on our hands if this deal goes through.

Unless these guys are pure spurs fans and even if they buy the club they would do the best to ensure it stays the best. By not changing too many for a short period of time. Stability got us to top 4. Levy knows this by now after Commoli was kicked out.

[YidJoe24]

Latest Itks saying its all Bullsh*t. More to follow.

[dedleysting]

Latest Itks saying its all Bullsh*t.

GOOD!
 
We are in the best situation we have been in years, regarding squad, success and European Oppertunities. why change. I have bad feelings American Owners linked with Tottenham, i just dont want um to feck us up like they have with United and Liverpool 

[Dom07Tottenham]

Harry wouldn't be going anywhere, I hope neither would Levy, surely Harry would have some say in his coaching staff, their can be provisions made by Enic, to any buying contract that the majority of current staff, be kept, if it was well structured, and planned, just because there is investment doesn't mean we have to start throwing money around, no business intends on ending up with a a debt, to pay for the new stadium, youth investment, and 2 or 3 new players max, whils't shipping a few out, I don't see the need for any major changes to the coaching staff or playing squad. Man utd and Liverpool are tow of the biggest clubs in the EPL still, they will stay up there, they have too much support from all around the world, if they need to sell, when they time comes they will, neither will go under, and they both will qualify for CL again in years to come.