Former Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has admitted he never believed Spurs would find themselves fighting relegation after years of growth both on and off the pitch.
Speaking after receiving a CBE at Windsor Castle, Levy reflected on Tottenham’s difficult campaign and confessed the club’s current Premier League position has left him shocked.
Spurs are hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone with only two games remaining, having endured a disastrous run throughout 2026.
The North London club are currently just two points above the drop after collecting only 38 points from 36 league matches.
Despite the pressure mounting around Tottenham, Levy remains hopeful the club can still avoid disaster before the season reaches full-time.
“Emptiness… but I’m optimistic that we will remain in the Premier League,” Levy responded after being asked about Spurs’ struggles.
Meanwhile, Levy admitted relegation was never something discussed during his long spell in charge, especially during the construction of Tottenham’s state-of-the-art stadium in 2019.
“Never, no, not in a million years,” he said when asked if he ever saw signs the club could fall into a relegation battle.
Furthermore, the former chairman insisted football remains deeply personal to him despite stepping away from leadership duties at the club.
“It’s in my blood,” Levy added when speaking about continuing to attend matches during the tense survival run-in.
Levy received his CBE from the Prince of Wales for services to charity and community development in Tottenham.
The honour recognised his contribution to education, healthcare, social inclusion and job creation linked to the £1 billion Tottenham Hotspur Stadium project.
“I think Tottenham fans should be proud that the club has made such a fantastic contribution to the local population.”
Although Tottenham became one of Europe’s biggest commercial clubs during his 24-year reign, Levy admitted he still regrets not delivering more major trophies to supporters.
“What I would have hoped for is winning the Premier League, winning the Champions League… easier said than done,” he admitted.
Levy also revealed he shared a light-hearted exchange with Prince William, a well-known Aston Villa supporter, during the ceremony.
“I thanked him for allowing us (Tottenham) to beat Aston Villa when we played them a few weeks ago,” he said.
“He wished us luck the rest of the season, very much hoping that Tottenham survives in the Premier League.”
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
