Staveley Eyeing a Return to the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur

Former Newcastle United director Amanda Staveley recently revealed her interest in returning to the Premier League following her acrimonious exit from St James’ Park in July 2024.

The British business executive severed ties with Newcastle nearly three years after becoming the public face of the club’s Saudi Arabian-controlled takeover in 2021.

Staveley, alongside her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi, helped broker the £305 million takeover of Newcastle from Mike Ashley through the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF).

They both became directors and minority co-owners of Newcastle after the PIF purchased an 80 percent majority stake, while Staveley and the Reuben Brothers each assumed 10% holdings.

With Newcastle without a chief executive or sporting director, the Saudis handed Staveley and her husband a rolling management contract to handle the day-to-day running of the club.

Her role at the club took a backseat when Newcastle appointed Darren Eales as chief executive and Dan Ashworth as sporting director. Her stake at the club also took a hit, dropping to 6%.

Staveley was involved in a court case in March last year when she failed in an attempt to persuade a judge to dismiss a bankruptcy claim brought by Greek shipping tycoon Victor Restis.

The court case impacted her role at the club, and her exit was finalised after Paul Mitchell was brought in to replace Ashworth, who forced a move to Manchester United.

Staveley is renowned for her connections with Middle Eastern investors, and she became a beloved figure on Tyneside for her role during the takeover.

Her exit was bittersweet, but the British financier is ready to channel her expertise and connections into another Premier League club and has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur.

Speaking at Bloomberg’s Women, Money & Power event in London, she was asked about her feelings for Newcastle and those links with Tottenham.

“First of all, I think all we can do is thank the amazing Newcastle community and the founders for all the support that we had and continue to get,” Staveley said.

“It’s so hard to move on from a club that’s amazing. We could never move on from Newcastle, and we never will. But yes, we’re looking at a number of investment operations.

“We can’t say too much at the moment because of, you know, rules around it. But we will be able to talk about it, hopefully in the not-too-distant future.”

Can Staveley be the catalyst for Tottenham to fulfil their potential

Staveley’s connections to Middle Eastern investors will spark excitement from Tottenham fans who would be hoping her Arab moguls can fund a revival at the club.

The excitement could also extend into the betting community, especially in the Middle East, with punters likely to follow Tottenham closely if the club secures Arab investment.

If Staveley can get a deal over the line, Arab punters will be eager to compare the leading betting brands to discover which offer the best Premier League odds.

This comprehensive 1xBet Review for Arab players shows the platform is capable of accommodating them and they would be inundated with wagers if Staveley lands at Tottenham.

We have already seen how an influx of cash from Middle Eastern investors can impact the fortunes of a Premier League club, so it could improve Tottenham’s odds of ending their silverware drought.

However, whether Staveley’s move to Tottenham would be a decent fit is another question entirely.

Tottenham’s ownership landscape has been evolving, with one-time majority shareholder Joe Lewis stepping back due to personal circumstances.

Lewis’ shares are held in a family trust, but they’re available for purchase, which paves the way for an external investor to swoop in. Staveley is expected to buy up some of the billionaire’s shares.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy values the club at £3.75 billion but has been looking for minority investment to bolster the club’s financial position.

Staveley is believed to have raised £500m via a consortium of high net-worth individuals from the United States, the Middle East and beyond.

However, £500m would likely only get Staveley a 15% equity stake at Tottenham, which would not be enough for the Premier League to recognise her as a controlling owner.

To make matters even more complicated, Liverpool University football finance lecturer and industry insider Kieran Maguire has also revealed that Levy is unlikely to want to cede control at Spurs.

That would also be a problem as Staveley would want a hands-on role, having previously explained that her battle with the degenerative neurological condition Huntington’s disease means she needs to work.

Staveley’s capital, industry expertise and contacts would be highly welcomed at Tottenham, but it might not be enough for her to get the voting power she needs to effect any real change.

Arabian cash influx will count for nothing if Levy is left to manage the funds, as his decision-making always comes at the expense of sporting success.

If Levy isn’t phased out or agrees to share control, Staveley’s mere presence at the club may not be enough to steer the club toward a new era of success.