Ex-Spurs owner Lewis' guilty pleas could bring fresh round of sale talk

Fall from grace will be uncomfortable for club that he transformed with chairman Levy

- Dan Kilpatrick

FOR Tottenham's public relations team, the sight of Joe Lewis leaving a New York courtroom flanked by a lawyer wearing a Spurs-branded baseball cap was likely unwelcome.

Tottenham have worked hard to distance themselves from their former owner, who yesterday apologised to a Manhattan judge when he pleaded guilty to three counts of insider trading.

Lewis, 86, admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and two counts of securities fraud, as part of an agreement with the Manhattan US Attorney's office.

He was hit with a 19-count indictment in July - 16 of securities fraud and three of conspiracy - for alleged crimes spanning 2013 to 2021.

"I am so embarrassed and I apologise to the court for my conduct," Lewis told the judge yesterday.

As part of his plea deal, Lewis has the right to appeal if he is sentenced to prison time, his lawyer David Zornow, who wore the Spurs cap, confirmed.

The scandal tarnishes the reputation of Lewis, the East End boy who went on to become one of Britain's richest men, and is uncomfortable for Spurs.

No one should need reminding of Lewis's close association with the club, even if he no longer has anything to do with it in a legal capacity.

He has been synonymous with Spurs since his former company, ENIC, bought Sir Alan Sugar's 29.9 per cent stake for £22million in 2000.