Daniel Levy named Premier League’s best chairman but he will have one major regret

Daniel Levy should be considered the best chairman in the Premier League, believes ex-Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend. Speaking to talkSPORT, Townsend said that he rates Levy higher than anyone else in his position in the top-flight. Levy is often heavily criticised by Tottenham fansAFP Levy has been Spurs’ chairman since 2001, and in that time, the club has been transformed on and off the pitch. They have a brilliant, modern stadium that is viewed as one of the finest sporting arenas in the world as well as a new training ground. The team are also regularly in Europe, while commercially, they are one of the richest clubs in the world. However, Spurs supporters often criticise Levy for not investing in the playing squad and for the club failing to win enough trophies. Of course, that drought ended earlier this year when Spurs claimed the Europa League trophy in May. But after a terrible domestic campaign where they came 17th in the Premier League table, Levy still sacked Ange Postecoglou and replaced him with Thomas Frank. And despite all the criticism, Townsend is a staunch defender of Levy, saying: “I’ve said it before and I am not afraid to say it.. I’ll get some stick, but I think he’s the best chairman in the Premier League by far. “Where he’s taken Spurs from then to where they are today, it’s chalk and cheese. “I remember ten years ago, Spurs were a mid-table club, playing in front of 25,000, not generating enough funds to be able to compete at the top level. “Now they have a brand new stadium and brand new straining ground. They are competing at the top level, and they are in the Champions League and won the Europa League. Townsend is a huge Levy fan Levy decided to remove Postecoglou, much to the outrage of some Spurs fansGetty “They are considered a big six side when before, it was the big four, and they’ve broken into that because of the brand they’ve created off the pitch.” However, the former England international does think Levy made a mistake with Mauricio Pochettino. After Spurs reached the 2018/19 Champions League final, the following summer didn’t go to plan, and Pochettino was sacked to be replaced by Jose Mourinho five months after their defeat to Liverpool in Madrid. “I think he made one mistake that was after the Champions League final when he didn’t back [Mauricio] Pochettino,” Townsend. “I think he’s big enough and brave enough to admit that was his one mistake, but with everything else, he’s one of the best in the business.” During that summer, Christian Eriksen and Kieran Trippier departed the club. Pochettino achieved some brilliant things at Tottenhamgetty Levy did splash out a then club-record fee of £63million on Tanguy Ndombele, but the midfielder was unable to get fit throughout his five years at the club. Ryan Sessegnon and Giovani Lo Celso also arrived to bolster the first team. Jack Clarke also came in but was immediately loaned back to Leeds United. So, that was only three first-team additions to the squad, but with Trippier and Eriksen leaving, the team only had one extra player. Ndombele struggled throughout his Spurs careerGetty The season started reasonably for Pochettino and Spurs, losing just one of their first six games. However, a 7-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League was followed by a 3-0 loss against Brighton. And after a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United, Pochettino was dismissed. Mourinho and Antonio Conte followed but didn’t bring trophies or league success. And since, Levy has admitted sacking Pochettino was one of the hardest things he’s ever done. “It is not something I ever wanted,” Levy said. Personally, it was incredibly difficult, I told him that and he understood. He’s been in football, he understands. “It’s not personal and I’m sure he’ll come back stronger and get an opportunity to manage another great club.”

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Daniel Levy named Premier League’s best chairman but he will have one major regret

Daniel Levy should be considered the best chairman in the Premier League, believes ex-Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Townsend said that he rates Levy higher than anyone else in his position in the top-flight.

Levy is often heavily criticised by Tottenham fans

Levy has been Spurs’ chairman since 2001, and in that time, the club has been transformed on and off the pitch.

They have a brilliant, modern stadium that is viewed as one of the finest sporting arenas in the world as well as a new training ground.

The team are also regularly in Europe, while commercially, they are one of the richest clubs in the world.

However, Spurs supporters often criticise Levy for not investing in the playing squad and for the club failing to win enough trophies.

Of course, that drought ended earlier this year when Spurs claimed the Europa League trophy in May.

But after a terrible domestic campaign where they came 17th in the Premier League table, Levy still sacked Ange Postecoglou and replaced him with Thomas Frank.

And despite all the criticism, Townsend is a staunch defender of Levy, saying: “I’ve said it before and I am not afraid to say it.. I’ll get some stick, but I think he’s the best chairman in the Premier League by far.

“Where he’s taken Spurs from then to where they are today, it’s chalk and cheese.

“I remember ten years ago, Spurs were a mid-table club, playing in front of 25,000, not generating enough funds to be able to compete at the top level.

“Now they have a brand new stadium and brand new straining ground. They are competing at the top level, and they are in the Champions League and won the Europa League.

Levy decided to remove Postecoglou, much to the outrage of some Spurs fans

“They are considered a big six side when before, it was the big four, and they’ve broken into that because of the brand they’ve created off the pitch.”

However, the former England international does think Levy made a mistake with Mauricio Pochettino.

After Spurs reached the 2018/19 Champions League final, the following summer didn’t go to plan, and Pochettino was sacked to be replaced by Jose Mourinho five months after their defeat to Liverpool in Madrid.

“I think he made one mistake that was after the Champions League final when he didn’t back [Mauricio] Pochettino,” Townsend.

“I think he’s big enough and brave enough to admit that was his one mistake, but with everything else, he’s one of the best in the business.”

During that summer, Christian Eriksen and Kieran Trippier departed the club.

Pochettino achieved some brilliant things at Tottenham

Levy did splash out a then club-record fee of £63million on Tanguy Ndombele, but the midfielder was unable to get fit throughout his five years at the club.

Ryan Sessegnon and Giovani Lo Celso also arrived to bolster the first team.

Jack Clarke also came in but was immediately loaned back to Leeds United.

So, that was only three first-team additions to the squad, but with Trippier and Eriksen leaving, the team only had one extra player.

Ndombele struggled throughout his Spurs career

The season started reasonably for Pochettino and Spurs, losing just one of their first six games.

However, a 7-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League was followed by a 3-0 loss against Brighton.

And after a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United, Pochettino was dismissed.

Mourinho and Antonio Conte followed but didn’t bring trophies or league success.

And since, Levy has admitted sacking Pochettino was one of the hardest things he’s ever done.

“It is not something I ever wanted,” Levy said. Personally, it was incredibly difficult, I told him that and he understood. He’s been in football, he understands.

“It’s not personal and I’m sure he’ll come back stronger and get an opportunity to manage another great club.”