John Wenham calls ticket price increase at Tottenham ‘unacceptable’, says fans are reaching a ‘tipping point’
Tottenham News is delighted to welcome John Wenham of Lilywhite Rose as our exclusive columnist. Each week, he’ll be giving his expert insight on the biggest talking points at Spurs…
Tottenham fans are reaching a “tipping point” with the club’s ownership following “unacceptable” ticket price increases, according to John Wenham.
Spurs announced a freeze on season ticket prices for the upcoming campaign but opted to increase match day ticket prices, something that was described as “excessive” by the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust in July (The Independent, July 8).
The hike preceded news that Joe Lewis had been hit with 19 charges, including three counts of securities fraud, with his alleged crimes said to have taken place between 2013 and 2021 when the 86-year-old was the direct owner of Spurs. Lewis entered a not guilty plea on July 26.
Wenham believes this in itself will not have a particularly big impact on the club’s daily operations, but that it won’t help as fans begin to become more frustrated with the ownership situation in north London.
Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Wenham said: “Joe Lewis took Tottenham out of his ownership last October quite quietly, so we’ve seen now that this will have no impact on Tottenham whatsoever.
“But I think the fan unrest is growing and, in some quarters, it is very much valid. The ticket price increase was really a final nail in the coffin for some of those fans that hadn’t quite hit their tipping point yet.
“The more moderate level of fan who had previously not been so outspoken on it has now decided that increasing the ticket prices in a time when everybody’s struggling, and when the team finished eighth last season, is not acceptable.
“I know there’s a planned protest before the Manchester United game outside the stadium and I can just see those sort of things continuing unless things like the ticket price decision are reversed.
In other Tottenham news, Wenham has backed a “world-class” player at the club to return to his best.