By Jack Howes.Â
06/06/2025
In recent years higher-ups at Spurs women have fondly talked about the team’s ‘journey’. We are supposedly on a long-term journey where, with intelligent investment, canny recruitment, and a commitment to playing attractive football, we will progress up the WSL and become a Champions League team within a few years. For example Andy Rogers, Managing Director for Spurs Women, said to The Athletic in 2023 he wanted Spurs to become the ‘best run’ women’s team in the world.
This year, as Spurs hobbled their way to an eleventh-place finish (one off relegation), you could almost hear the rousing chorus of American yacht rock group Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ playing in the background as, after another listless loss, Spurs players took to social media to ask fans to stick with them.
But having endured the season, my reflections on the team’s journey can be summed up simply: utter bullshit. At Spurs journey has become a euphemism for running the women’s team on the cheap. And without significant changes in the club’s management and an upturn in investment, the only place Spurs’ journey will end is in relegation to the rebranded WSL2.
Where are we now?
After the dismal end to the 2024-25 season (1W, 3D, 7L across the second half of the season), urgent action is needed on and off the field. We have become a poor team, with management seemingly unable to get the best out of players, while not being sufficiently supported by the club leadership in terms of investment and infrastructure. There appears to be no scouting network, with the responsibility of recruitment left to a coaching staff who seemingly have knowledge of only the English and Swedish (Damallsvenskan) leagues. Contract decisions also seem to depend on the coaching staff, with no one else within the club responsible for squad building or long-term planning.
As we move into the summer there have been no signs that the club is aware of the seriousness of its situation. It is now a month since Spurs finished second-bottom and more than three weeks since manager, Robert Vilahamn’s, future was going to be discussed ‘within the next fortnight’. Still there is no news and Vilahamn remains in charge.
Meanwhile a surprising list of players have signed new contracts. Of the eight whose previous contracts expired this month five have been renewed (Olga Ahtinen, Kit Graham, Ashleigh Neville, Josefine Rybrink, and Martha Thomas), while there has been no information about the other three (Molly Bartrip, Luana Bühler and Rosella Ayane). Meanwhile there are no links to new players and given the number of players remaining at Spurs, little space for new additions. This suggests Spurs plan to enter next season with largely the same squad that finished 11th this season.
Thomas’ contract extension last week exemplifies what is wrong at Spurs. Thomas played in all 22 league games this season as a centre forward or number ten, starting 13 and coming on as substitute in nine. In those games, she did not score a single goal and created just one assist across the season.
Faced with these stats and a 29 year old player, whose contract was up wouldn’t a well-run club let Thomas go, with a warm handshake and well-wishes for the future? Instead, Spurs gave her a three-year contract. Thomas seems like a lovely person and the season before she produced what were arguably Spurs Women’s two greatest ever moments (with winning goals in the North London Derby and FA Cup Semi-Final) but I simply do not see the market for a forward who persistently neither scores nor assists nor links up play particularly effectively.
And while a one-year extension might be justifiable, albeit puzzling, this is a three-year deal which keeps Thomas at the club until she is 32. I am staggered. And worried about where goals are going to come from next season, especially should Bethany England’s contributions dry up.
My pessimism about Spurs is also about developments elsewhere in the WSL. After two years of promoted teams going straight down again this year London City Lionesses are entering the WSL with a ton of money to spend (and rumoured high-profile incomings) and will surely be far more competitive than Bristol City or Crystal Palace. Meanwhile Everton, who have struggled in recent years have new ownership and a new stadium in Goodison Park and were already boosted by a raft of mid-season signings in January. Aston Villa have also rebounded from a poor spell to end the season with five straight wins under new coach Natalie Arroyo and look like they will be nearer the top than the bottom of the table over the next year or two.
By contrast, Spurs are settling for mediocrity, at best, and, at worst, managed decline.
Money talks
Of Spurs Women’s manifold problems the biggest and most fundamental is a lack of investment. Assessing the club’s most recently released accounts for the 2023/24 season we can identify the amount spent on salaries for both players and staff (you cannot differentiate them but typically the amount spent on salaries is the best indicator of where a team should finish): Spurs spent £3.4m.
Below is a comparison of the published accounts for other WSL teams. Note that some clubs do not separate accounts for the women’s from men’s teams and these are listed as ‘unknown.’
Chelsea – unknown
Arsenal – £9m
Man City £7m
Man Utd – £5m
Brighton – £3.5m
Aston Villa – unknown
Spurs – £3.4m
Liverpool – £2.6m
West Ham – unknown
Everton – £2.4m
Leicester – unknown
If we assume that Chelsea’s spending at least matches, and is likely in excess of, Arsenal’s; that Villa’s spending is at a similar or higher level to Spurs and Brighton; and that West Ham and Leicester spend similar sums to Liverpool and Everton, Spurs are perhaps seventh in the league for salary spend.
In November Megan Feringa in the Athletic estimated Spurs women’s spend as bottom five. So, seventh is perhaps an improvement. However, the gaps in spending between Spurs and the WSL elite are stark. The above list shows that Arsenal, for example, spent two and a half times more than Spurs. United, who were promoted at the same time as Spurs, spent nearly 50 percent more. And, if you look at expenditure as a percentage of total club revenue, Spurs are the WSL’s lowest spenders.
What makes it even more frustrating is that fans know that these gaps could be bridged with a minuscule percentage of overall revenue – Spurs generates more than £500m in revenue a year. Men’s home games bring in £5 to £6 million on average with the club topping that up with approximately £2 to £3 million in revenue for each concert we host. In other words, for one men’s home game, or a couple of Beyonce concerts, we could be spending on salaries what Arsenal do – and they are the current European champions.
Yet, the club would rather talk of ‘journeys’ or plan an Academy, which remains unlikely to be built anytime soon.
Is this surprising? Just two years ago Daniel Levy said that there ‘wasn’t a market’ for women’s football. And the evidence is that he does not see Spurs playing a part in creating that market. I would argue that his apathy to women’s football is a far worse indictment of Levy’s chairmanship than anything he has been accused of doing to the men’s team.
It’s still a management issue
Beyond the needlessly low budget, Spurs have recruited poorly and rarely look well coached. As a lifelong Spurs fan and men’s season ticket holder since 2014 and women’s since 2023, I have never been more infuriated by a manager’s decision making than I have by Robert Vilahamn’s over the last season (Tim Sherwood excepted).
Repeatedly Vilahamn’s team selection, substitutions and tactical choices left me tearing out what remains of my hair. Why was Charli Grant given so much game time as a winger when she is patently not a winger? Why did the aforementioned Martha Thomas play every single WSL game when she neither scored nor looked like scoring? Why was Becky Spencer given a new contract in November when (statistically and by the eye test) she was at that time the WSL’s worst performing first-choice keeper? Why was Rosella Ayane anywhere near a WSL pitch in the second half of the season? Why were Wang Shuang and other players never given a proper chance while poorly-performing players got a million opportunities? I could go on.
Vilahamn seems like a nice man, who talks well about the club and about women’s football generally and, when he finally goes, I will miss his wife guy Instagram persona. But the club has thousands of supporters, whose interests cannot be sacrificed for the feelings of one person. A new manager is now imperative and a change would be popular among most fans – yet at this point it looks like Vilahamn is staying.
Even more than a new manager, we desperately need someone to oversee recruitment and decisions around contracts. A ‘technical director’ with those responsibilities was promised in January (and recruitment adverts posted) but is yet to be appointed.
Looking ahead on the current evidence, next season is going to be a stressful time to support Spurs. New management, new recruitment structures, new players and a raft of investment is needed to even reach the safety of mid-table. The alternative, which looks increasingly likely, is that the club continues into next season with the same manager and group of players… I dread to imagine that journey.
Spurs Women Blog 
Couldn’t agree more.
There seems to be – at most – one or two spaces for new recruits, and exactly how that is meant to improve on last season, I am not sure? Unless a new manager is coming in.
At some point the league are going to introduce 2 up 2 down, and so the target has to be 10th place as a minimum. The problem? At the moment I don’t see two other teams with weaker squads than ours.
To rub salt in the wound, we have lost our most promising talent to a long-term injury.
Its already looking like a very long season ahead.
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Well Xander at last a new thread to comment on … however interesting this is Jack it should have gone deeper if not just to embarrass the peeps who hide in the background of Spurs thinking they care. Clearly after 6 years they do not, bar the marketing failure with Alex Morgan which got the team into Potspur Way from a school field and Beth England so called “most paid in the WSL for a player at the time” to try stave off relegation for Skinner rumoured at 500k. Our club has flatlined with this team in it’s leadership and direction. I could go on. All they have done is source cheap players to placate the fans who look for so called role models and signed memrobilia to sell on eBay. Every season they replace with like for like plus handing out extns regularly to players that will never get any better and I includes the like of Naz Graham Neville Summanen Spencer Ayanne even Spence plus so many others inclg those reported recently. They call it the “sustainability organic journey” but to where? – I ask. We have lost 50% of the fanbase since Dec (down from 2.5k to just over 1k – incl away fans) due to Vilahamn’s management and becos of fielding 3 games at the Lane against opposition we will never beat hoping to get crowds of 30k – it backfired big time and we were lucky to have Palace below us. We are on the cards for relegation next season for sure but that clearly is probably what Levy wants so he can hand them back to Broxbourne and change the training ground into a US Football elite training complex (his wish all along) and no doubt an F1 repair centre. I have followed this team for 10 seasons and am embarrased to say my club has failed this project. They should have just resigned from the league as it will get worse not better anytime soon. Sorry but as a fan I have lost all faith with the running of this club team.
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seems Xander – Bob will be sacked next week, probably Monday … had to be done
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Announced today but then Ikea is open on a Sunday so why not – great news indeed
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No news yet on Bartrip? Whilst we do need new centre halves that can cope with crosses, she is probably the best of a bad bunch.
Don’t think sacking changes much. Hopefully it will spell and end to trying to play out of the back – our players just aren’t good enough to do it.
Not sure much room for changing the squad – can’t see much demand for our players in terms of sales, so probably a maximum of a couple of new additions.
Expect Levy to choose an easy option. Matt Beard the most likely in my view. Just as long as not Gareth Taylor.
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So with Scott Munns Andy Rogers and Donna Cullen falling by the wayside along with Bob .. hopefully Paratici will come in and sort this project out for the better.
Beard has media baggage that Levy may not like as for Taylor I am not really sure what went on behind the scenes at Citeh with his quick departure. (Maybe the fall out with Kelly! did it)
Both would have to accept a lower salary I guess but are free for interviews.
As for Bartrip she has been in Africa on one of her campaigns but maybe she, Buhler and esp Ayanne are the 3 that actually are let go to make room.
I still do not agree with the 4 extn’s and esp Thomas 3 year contract (what r we thinking?) but guess we cant get rid of too many although we let 7 go last year in one go .. but then maybe the new Manager already has said who he/she would like to keep and manage … or is it another dropped failure by Andy Rogers before he clears his desk. Maybe he did it on purpose – who knows.
At least Amanda and Hayley will be pleased as they clearly did not get on with RV this season.
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wonder if Bri Campos stays on as she cant be blamed for his failure – can she?
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cant see Campos staying. If anything, results got worse after she got involved.
Think it will be Beard. Easy appointment, as no ties or contracts to resolve and can see him bringing one of his old players with him in Sophie Ingle. Big mates with Beth England – will improve us defensively and with organisation.
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Bri was behind Jepson and she was the mother hen in pushing the old Skinner guard – many of whom are mediocre at best and will never get any better. Mat Beard – Hmm – at least he knows the WSL. Im hoping Paratici has an ace up his sleeve from Europe (possibly Italy)
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It was Leicester Willie Kirk that had media baggage not Beard, my mistake
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just hope Andy Rogers doesnt still deal with the deals and we wait until better is employed by Paratici
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well the window finally opens but no one at the helm to even look as we cannot trust Andy pandy can we? – he’s been signing poor players ever since he joined us
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So much info on the men’s team incl links etc but zilch on the women’s … R we even talking to a Dir of Football and/or a Manager for our women’s set up. All decent players will be snapped up soon – but guess we do that every season anyhow (we wait too long and get castoffs instead)
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Seemingly wont be Beard. Starting to fear it may be Gareth Taylor.
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Just another thought. No news on Bartrip signing. Transfer window opens tomorrow.
Hoping my maths is way out.
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I thought the window opened on Monday but u r so right – its tomm. Doesnt mean much to us anyhow as we never get decent players and the media do not bother researching rumours or links so very little to follow until it happens. Levy mentioned the women in his recent video message so it seems they are still looking for a DoF and Manager and whomever they need to fill office seats. Assume Bri Campos running the training in the meantime. We need to find another Bompastor but will we remains to be seen. Taylor??? Hmm – would Levy get on with him !!!.
As for Bartrip, I assume she Buhler and certainly Ayanne will probbaly move on looking for new challenges then. As per the POD Ladies they think the 4 extns were to ensure we get some money should anyone want to sign Rybrink Graham Neville Ahtinen from us !!! What r they thinking – all 4 needed upgrading now. Europe/US been trading for the last 4-5 weeks soany decent players already snapped up. Lets see what happens but with our squad I still see us as relegation fodder come next season no matter what Manager joins us. I hope I am wrong.
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Alessandro Spugna rumour – guess Paratici knew him when at Juve. Roma Women manager
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at last – someone leaves to make room for someone so so SO much better – we hope
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If Buhler is also offered an extn that means we tech only have 1 open position but then I guess Dennis would expect that after being loaned out. All we can hope for now is a busload of loans going out to make some room just in case they r bought from us in Jan to boost the low coffers.
Big risk as lets face it many of our deadwood players have zero value. We have 14 players on contracts ending 2026 so I expect Levy feels we will be relegated and disbanded next May with minimal redundancy payouts. Our squad is clearly not good enough to challenge even the bottom 4 anymore.
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Buhler injured yet again – time for us to go get Carpenter and let her go and get well at home . Carpenter will help Hunt get better so a win win COYSW be daring for a change
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online rumours now suggesting it will be Martin Ho as manager.
United fans think this is a disaster as they wanted him to return to them as Head coach.
Has a great reputation as a coach and seems to have done well at Brann.
Positive news, if true.
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Hope u r right Xander – also we sign a 19yr old Jap defender so guess AJT/Buhler or both are on their way out to make room. Interesting as no DoF or Manager installed making any decisions so someone is penning the deals. Hope they know what they are doing as we really need a TOP GOAL SCORER and GK not someone to pick the ball out of the Kop net.
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So its confirmed – the Ho Ho Ho season starts today, lets hope the club hirearcy support this manager with better players. We can hope
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Seems he has been give a substantial budget on paper for his first season but the trouble is we have about 12 players that need to be moved on now not in another year or 2 and we all know this budget will be for everything incl salaries not just for player signings so yet again my hopes r dashed somewhat. I hope he is recognised in the market and can attract elite players.
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Whoopee Spencer finally goes – just Neville Graham and Naz to move on from the old guard and then things might just get a whole lot better
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Here we go again typical Spurs – we spend all our time sorting out Spencer and dont bother talking to Roebuck to come to us as No1 and now she signs for Villa who want to put us down again along with Everton who continue to build a stronger side. All we do is re-pack the deadwood for winter with extn’s – Now the new word is “rebuild” – rebuild what – the potting shed at Potspur way garden centre.
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Lets hope Levy gives Ho some of this new found wealth soon otherwise we will be left in the doldrums again – we r so slow in researching better players let alone sign them. Looks like we just dont D”C”are.
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Seems Hayley wants out already – to Benfica … thanks to Villaman’s treatment last season
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10th Aug and still no OUTS and NO decent players in – guess Ho aint got that budget after all. But where is Beth hayley and AJT? as they have not been seen in any training vid’s nor photos. They will be super unfit if they indeed do show up … so maybe we have to assume they may well be on to new pastures. AJT has been ill, Hayley wants out asaspo and Beth I guess is carrying on with her coaching badge although she still has 2 years to go.
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