Donna-Maria Cullen steps down as Tottenham Hotspur shake-up begins

Times

3 days ago

One of Daniel Levy's closest advisers, Donna-Maria Cullen, has stepped down from the Tottenham Hotspur board as the club begins another summer of upheaval off the pitch.
Cullen, who will leave Spurs after more than two decades working with the club, is expected to be the first of a string of significant changes made to the Tottenham hierarchy, with the new chief executive Vinai Venkatesham officially starting work this week.
Venkatesham, who was previously at Arsenal for more than a decade, will help lead the shake-up of Tottenham's key positions, with the roles of Scott Munn, the chief football officer, and Johan Lange, the technical director, among those now coming under heavy scrutiny.
A decision on Ange Postecoglou's future as head coach, which is also in serious doubt, is expected to be made this week. Postecoglou did not hold any talks with Levy before going on holiday to Greece last week, after Tottenham lost 4-1 at home against Brighton & Hove Albion in their final game of the season, which meant they finished 17th in the Premier League.
Postecoglou did not hold any talks with Levy before going on holiday
Levy, who attended the game against Brighton, was undecided on Postecoglou's future at that stage, after Tottenham's Europa League triumph and a joyous trophy parade had turbo-charged the Australian coach's case for staying. Thomas Frank (Brentford), Marco Silva (Fulham) and Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth) have all been discussed as possible successors.
In an interview with ABC's Australian Story, which airs on Monday night, Postecoglou said: 'I have no doubt that for me the mission when I joined the football club was to win a trophy.'
Postecoglou also referred to his speech to the fans during the trophy parade, when he said that season three is usually better than season two in the best television shows. 'I didn't want us to just enjoy the moment,' he said. 'I also wanted us to think about what's next, you know — don't settle for this. We've got a taste of it now. My players have got a taste for it. The club's got a taste for it. Well, let's make sure we're back here again.'
Postecoglou is not the only one at Tottenham now waiting for clarity on his future. Venkatesham will take on some of the responsibilities previously performed by Levy and other board members at Spurs, and his arrival makes Munn's remit as chief football officer particularly unclear. Munn's position and Lange's role as technical director would also be affected if Fabio Paratici, Tottenham's former managing director of football, returns to the club this summer.
Paratici resigned from that role in April 2023 but the 30-month ban he received, after his former club Juventus were found guilty of false accounting, ends in July. He has continued to advise Levy on a consultancy basis and attended the win over Manchester United in the Europa League final. In theory, Lange could work below Paratici, as Steve Hitchen did as technical director when Paratici first joined Spurs in 2021, although Hitchen resigned less than a year later.
Cullen, 62, joined the Tottenham board in 2006 after previously serving as an adviser to the club for 14 years. While her main role was as a communications and marketing specialist, she was a hugely influential figure at Spurs, after playing a key role in the new stadium project and becoming one of Levy's most trusted confidantes.
In a statement, Cullen said: 'The club has been my life for the past three decades. It has been quite some journey, starting at White Hart Lane, with a brief stay at Wembley and finally our new home — amazing memories home and away. Ending this season with the Europa League trophy was a dream come true.
'The time is now right for me to gather more time for myself and my family, whom I thank for all their support over the years. I shall spend the coming months ensuring there is a smooth handover with my staff.'
Levy said: 'Donna has made an immense contribution to the club, over an extensive period. Her diverse responsibilities grew significantly and replacing her roles with a single individual will be impossible.
'While many may associate her primarily with marketing and communications, Donna's impact extends far beyond those areas. Notably, her leadership and political acumen at planning committees, was instrumental in the club being able to build one of the finest stadiums and training centres in the world.
'Her daily input will be greatly missed, however she fully deserves to take time for herself, and I know that we shall be able to call upon her advice when needed. We wish her well for the future.'