Credit climate and Olympics force stadium rethink

Last updated : 30 November 2007 By Gareth Davies

Just days after Chairman Daniel Levy told shareholders that the club was exploring several possibilities regarding the issue surrounding the capacity of White Hart Lane, it is now rumoured that club officials are considering abandoning plans for a major stadium development, with directors leaning toward a limited redevelopment of the West Stand.

If the story, reported on The Guardian's website, is true, the news will come as a big disappointment for fans of the club as it has long been thought that the club needs to either move to a bigger ground or greatly expand the capacity of White Hart Lane if it is to compete, both financially and on the football field, with the biggest clubs in the country. It is thought that uncertainty surrounding the credit market turmoil has forced the board to reconsider its position.

According to the report, one plan gaining ground at the club is to increase the capacity of the West Stand by between 6,000-8,0000 seats, taking the total capacity to nearly 44,000 and increasing match-day revenue by at least 10%. This figure would move
White Hart Lane above Villa Park and Stamford Bridge and into the top eight largest stadiums in English football. At the moment it is telling that Sheffield Wednesday and Leed's United, teams in the second and third tiers of English football respectively, can fit over 3,000 more fans into their grounds.

The change in scale of the project is being blamed on timing and the prevailing economic climate rather than a lack of ambition among directors. There are doubts that Haringey Council will provide grant aid for a full development, and the Olympic Project is also monopolising spending on transport improvements in north-east
London. The club had been considering moving to one of three brownfield sites in north London.