Spurs take aim at Ineos

Tottenham Hotspur have hit back at Manchester United co-owners Ineos in the latest episode of the pair’s court battle.

Spurs are taking legal action against the petrochemicals company after they withdrew from a sponsorship deal with the club. They have now submitted a new set of documents to the High Court, in which they refute Ineos’s attempt to counter-sue.

Tottenham initially pursued legal action, claiming Ineos, operated by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, had violated the terms of a £17m, five-year agreement that named their Grenadier model the ‘official 4×4 partner’ of the club.

Tottenham has now responded. While acknowledging discussions with the German car manufacturer, they argue that Ineos had no right to terminate the deal because no agreement was ultimately reached. Spurs’ legal team adds that even if Ineos’s termination was valid, they owed the club a payment of £4.25m on December 1, but the termination didn’t occur until December 6.

Ineos maintain they had a contractual right to terminate the contract, which they activated.

Tottenham Hotspur have hit back at Manchester United co-owners Ineos in the latest episode of the pair’s court battle

Tottenham initially pursued legal action, claiming Ineos, operated by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, had violated the terms of a £17m, five-year agreement that named their Grenadier model the ‘official 4×4 partner’ of the club

Lord Sugar to follow through?

It will be intriguing to observe if Lord Alan Sugar proceeds with his threat to sue Sky Sports after Jamie Redknapp alleged that Daniel Levy had inherited ‘a complete mess’ following Lord Sugar’s time at White Hart Lane.

The former Tottenham chairman and star of The Apprentice quickly took to social media to call Redknapp a ‘double barrel idiot’ and mentioned that Sky would be ‘hearing from my lawyers Monday’.

Should the legal challenge land, those at the broadcaster may well remind Lord Sugar of the 2007 deal which saw him sell electronics group Amstrad to BskyB – in a £125m takeover which reportedly saw him pocket a cool £34.5m.

Guehi’s exit drama continues

The fallout over Marc Guehi’s failed transfer from Crystal Palace to Liverpool on deadline day continues. As part of what was a complex process, the Eagles agreed a move with Tottenham for forward Manor Solomon and went as far as signing a ‘deal sheet’, to allow them extra time to complete the switch. 

However, Palace subsequently pulled out of the loan, leaving Spurs fuming. Inside Sport has since learned that Tottenham, who subsequently sent Solomon to Villareal, have suggested to the Premier League that such deal sheets become a binding document, which have to be honoured. They are, however, thought to be unlikely to succeed with their quest.

Marc Guehi saw a dream Deadline Day move to Liverpool scuppered at the last minute

The Eagles pulled out a move for Tottenham’s Manor Solomon – who later moved to Villareal – at the last minute

Family confusion raises eyebrows

The world of Olympic sport was left stunned following silver-medallist swimmer Ben Proud’s decision to join the doping-permitted Enhanced Games last week, with many wondering what former British Olympic Association chief Bill Sweeney, thought to be his godfather, would make of it all. 

Inside Sport asked the RFU – where Sweeney is currently CEO – that very question, only to be told that he was actually godfather to Proud’s brother, Oliver. That raised eyebrows among many, despite previous reports to the contrary. 

Indeed, in 2014 this very column noted that Sweeney had managed to secure tickets for Ben’s parents to watch him in the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

It turns out that Bill Sweeney, thought to be Ben Proud’s godfather, allegedly isn’t actually his godfather

Kirsty’s not holding back

Kirsty Coventry continues to ring the changes following her election as International Olympic Committee president – and has placed two Brits in key roles within the organisation.

Jan Paterson, former director at the British Olympic Association and currently the MD of sport at the Saudi giga-project NEOM, is to become the new chief of staff at the IOC, and will reinforce the much-needed dramatic shift in gender equity at senior level within the IOC.

Paterson’s no-nonsense, pragmatic approach to issues is a signal that the IOC may also be ready to address the discrepancy between its policy on Russia and Israel, as well as dealing with the huge threat of the Enhanced (doping-permitted) Games in Las Vegas next year.

Elsewhere ex-BBC journalist James Pearce, who worked on Coventry’s campaign, has been named chief communications advisor.

Kirsty Coventry is continuing to ring the changes following her election as International Olympic Committee president