Spurs supremo would consider Arsenal groundshare

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has revealed the club may consider ground-sharing with arch-rivals Arsenal at a neutral venue if Spurs are forced to leave White Hart Lane.

Spurs’ first choice would be to redevelop their home of 104 years, as well as the transport links to and from the stadium.

But Levy admits all other possibilities will be investigated, from the search for a new home in or outside the borough of Haringey to the possibility of ground-sharing.

Arsenal are set to move to a new stadium at Ashburton Grove, but the cost of the project has risen significantly since the original plans were drawn up.

And Levy claims should the Gunners wish to consider alternative proposals, Spurs would be willing to discus sharing a new home with their north London rivals.

He told The Evening Standard: “We have no plans to ground-share with Arsenal or anyone else, but clearly if someone approached us and it was in the club’s interests and the fans’ interests, we’re not dogmatic. We’d look at it.

“But my view is that if it were a neutral venue, then it’s something that we would consider – it’s something you’d have thought both clubs would at least consider.

“But on something as emotive as that, we would have to get a real feel from our fans as to whether that would be something they’d be prepared to accept.”

Levy also refused to move out the possibility of moving Spurs into the new national stadium at Wembley.

Under current guidelines, no domestic club would be allowed to move to the new ground, however Arsenal have played some of their Champions League matches under the famous Twin Towers a couple of seasons back.

And Levy admits the newly-built Wembley would be an attractive venue should future proposals for White Hart Lane not develop as planned.

“Clearly, the idea of utilising an existing stadium or one which has already been planned obviously has some appeal,” said Levy.

“It’s fair to say that if we’re not happy with the progress that’s been made towards improving transportation, we would look at Wembley as an alternative.”

Plans are in place for state-of-the-art training and academy facilities at a ‘Spurs Village’ site in Abridge, Essex, while Levy would also like to see White Hart Lane revamped to hold up to 50,000 fans with a significantly improved transport infrastructure.

However, the Tottenham chairman reflected: “This area has gone downhill. There’s been no central government intervention to stop the decline.

“I’m not confident, which is why we’ve decided we have to look at other options.

“Without improved transport links, we can’t move on. We can’t sit here for ever and a day hoping it’s going to happen.

“We haven’t set a time limit, but if we find another suitable site, somewhere financially viable that the fans would be comfortable with, that would be a catalyst upon which we’d have to turn around and say we’ve had enough.

“Either there’s going to be significant commitment or we’re off.

“We haven’t put a gun to anyone’s head yet because we’re not in that position - but we are at the point where we will explore other avenues.”

Tottenham intend to give their fans an integral role in the discussions surrounding the future of the club’s ground, with a survey planned for their website and in the Boxing Day match programme.

Levy added: “All the fans I’ve spoken to think that if we have the right location, the right facilities and it meant the club going forward, they would be very supportive of us moving.”

Arsenal travel to White Hart Lane on Sunday looking to complete a Barclaycard Premiership double over their neighbours.

And while Levy would like nothing more than to see the old enemy defeated, he admits Spurs still have some way to go to match their rivals from Islington.

He said: “I’m a Spurs fan. I’m disappointed we’re not at the same level as Arsenal. They’re years ahead of us at the moment, but we’re trying to catch up.

“Arsenal have success on the pitch, are going to move to a large stadium and have great first-team and academy training facilities – well, now those are the areas we are focusing on.”

He added: “It’s going to be very difficult, a very challenging job which is going to require skill and patience – but I’m determined to succeed.”