Tottenham‘s majority shareholders ENIC, who are run by the Lewis Family Trust, own 87% of the club, yet as the remaining shares are publicly traded, the club are subject to the UK takeover code. As such, any expression of interest or bid must be lodged with the Takeover Panel and made public.
A report in The Sun last week suggested that Spurs were subject to a takeover bid from a consortium fronted by Earick and made up of 12 mystery investors. Tottenham “unequivocally rejected” an informal expression of interest from Earick, deeming it to be “unsolicited and unnecessary”.
Even so, Earick has until 5pm on October 24th to announce a firm intention to bid for Tottenham and must be fully financed and committed to following through with the deal. However, while some speaking positively of the US DJ, others are more suspicious.
“When I saw the story about Brooklyn bidding for Tottenham, my heart sank. It was a feeling of déjà vu after seeing what had happened between him and Maserati, and all the promises that were never fulfilled,” an insider is quoted as telling Telegraph Sport.
Conversely, former Notts County chairman Peter Trembling is believed to be advising Earick and believes that his intention to buy Tottenham is legitimate. Trembling was responsible for bringing Sven-Goran Eriksson and Sol Campbell to Meadow Lane in 2009.
“I know Brooklyn well and I introduced him to a couple of the key people at Tottenham which I guess set the ball rolling. That’s about it really,” Trembling said in an email to Telegraph Sport.
“I do know that the proposed co-investors are very impressive individuals and highly bona-fide, but I don’t know any of them personally nor have I had any contact with them.”
However, after seeing the interest in a bid for Tottenham “unequivocally rejected” by The Lewis Family, Earick took to social media to post a copy of the itinerary along with pictures of a tour he was given of the club’s facilities back in August.
Takeover Panel rules state that social media should not be used by parties in connection with a potential offer and that all information should go through official channels. Those who actively take to social media and breach those rules are encouraged to immediately stop.
Rumours of interest in acquiring Tottenham have been doing the rounds for the best part of a month now, stemming from Daniel Levy’s removal as chairman. Levy, who operated as Spurs chairman for 24 years, departed the club at the start of September having overseen a first piece of silverware since 2008 when the club won the Europa League back in May.
The club are aiming to come back from a disappointing Champions League result, as they drew 2-2 with Bodo/Glimt in Norway on Tuesday evening, ahead of their clash with Leeds United in the Premier League this weekend. They have one more game before the international break, and sit fourth in the Premier League table with 11 points from six games. They will play host to Aston Villa once domestic football resumes.
