Ex-Spurs Chairman Threatens to Sue Jamie Redknapp & Sky
Former Tottenham Hotspur owner Lord Alan Sugar has launched a furious response to pundit Jamie Redknapp following remarks made by the former midfielder during Sky Sports’ coverage of West Ham United’s clash with Spurs.
The Premier League fixture, which came immediately after the September international break, carried significant weight for Tottenham beyond the result on the pitch. It was the club’s first competitive outing in more than 20 years without Daniel Levy serving as chairman, after the long-serving executive officially stepped down earlier this month. Levy’s departure symbolized the beginning of a new chapter for the Lilywhites, who are still basking in the glow of last season’s Europa League triumph — their first major piece of silverware in 17 years.
During his punditry alongside Gianfranco Zola, Redknapp reflected on Levy’s legacy, acknowledging the criticism he often faced for being overly cautious with spending and for frustrating some of Tottenham’s highest-profile managers, including Mauricio Pochettino, José Mourinho, and Antonio Conte. Yet Redknapp also highlighted the positive side of Levy’s tenure, praising his long-term vision for the club. He pointed to Levy’s role in delivering the state-of-the-art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — now widely considered one of the best football arenas in the world — and investing heavily in modern training facilities.
However, it was Redknapp’s remarks about the condition of Spurs when Levy first arrived that triggered the controversy. The Sky Sports pundit claimed that Levy inherited “a total mess” following the reign of the club’s previous owner, Lord Sugar.
Those comments quickly drew the ire of Sugar, who wasted little time in firing back on X, formerly known as Twitter. The 77-year-old businessman branded Redknapp a “double barrel idiot” and accused him of talking “a load of rubbish.” He was particularly incensed at the suggestion that his ownership had left Tottenham in disarray.
Sugar, who made his fortune through his Amstrad electronics company, took control of Tottenham in 1991. His time at the helm was often controversial, with many supporters accusing him of prioritizing financial stability over footballing ambition. Critics suggested that he treated Spurs more like a business venture than a club with aspirations of competing at the very top of English and European football. Several players from that era have also voiced frustrations about Sugar’s leadership style, claiming it hindered the team’s progress on the pitch.
Despite those criticisms, Sugar did oversee periods of relative stability and ensured Tottenham remained financially secure during a time when many English clubs were struggling. He eventually sold the majority of his stake to ENIC in 2001 but stayed on as a part-owner until 2007, when he finally cut all ties with the club. Since then, he has had no involvement with football ownership, instead focusing on his business interests and his role as the face of the BBC show The Apprentice.
In his post on X, Sugar suggested that Redknapp’s comments were defamatory and revealed that both Redknapp and Sky Sports could be hearing from his lawyers over the remarks. His fiery response underlines just how strongly he feels about his time at Tottenham being misrepresented.
The row between the former Spurs owner and the ex-England midfielder has quickly caught the attention of supporters, with opinions divided. Some fans believe Redknapp was simply pointing out the difficulties Levy inherited, while others argue Sugar deserves more respect for keeping the club afloat and laying some of the groundwork for future success.
What remains certain is that even years after leaving Tottenham, Lord Sugar’s legacy at the North London club continues to spark debate — and he is clearly not prepared to let pundits rewrite history without challenging them.