English Premiership
AEG: No desire to buy Spurs
2012-02-18 14:51
London - The Anschutz Entertainment Group ruled out buying Tottenham on Friday while reasserting its strong ties with the Premier League club.
Speculation about the owners of Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy buying Tottenham has simmered since they jointly bid to move into London's Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.
After that bid failed, Tottenham initiated a search for investors to fund a new venue adjacent to its current White Hart Lane base and the club delisted from the stock market.
But AEG President Tim Leiweke has moved to quash talk of his company adding Tottenham to a sports portfolio that includes NHL's Los Angeles Kings and an interest in the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team.
"The stories that AEG is interested in or has been negotiating for the purchase of Tottenham are untrue," Leiweke said in a statement. "We currently enjoy a very good business and personal relationship with Tottenham and have been involved with a number of transactions over the years. However at no time have we had a desire to purchase that club.
"We will continue to have a great relationship with (chairperson) Daniel (Levy) and Tottenham moving forward."
Harry Redknapp's side is currently the top club in London, sitting third in the Premier League seven points behind leader Manchester City.
Tottenham is mostly owned by ENIC, which is controlled by Bahamas-based businessman Joe Lewis.