Can Vinai fix toxic Tottenham?

The chief executive presides over a club in turmoil and faces problems that changing the head coach won't solve.

- By Matt Verri

When all around you appears to be crumbling and signs of improvement are in short supply, what do you cling to? Vinai Venkatesham, if you are Thomas Frank.

The Tottenham boss is putting his faith in the chief executive's experiences at Arsenal in the early days of Mikel Arteta’s reign.

“He knows how unfortunately it can take time to get up to where good should look like,” Frank said. “That's definitely beneficial because also he understands the journey we're on.”

However, Arteta won the FA Cup in his first season and Arsenal at their very lowest ebb finished eighth.

The club captain was not taking potshots at the hierarchy on Instagram, nor were the players clashing with — or in Micky van de Ven’s case seemingly offering out — the fans so publicly.

Nor, from memory, did Venkatesham, below, have to ponder why exactly Arteta strolled onto the pitch before a match drinking an espresso from a cup emblazoned with Tottenham branding.

Barely six months on from the euphoria of the Europa League success, Tottenham have descended into toxic turmoil. Supporters will protest against the board on Saturday, the first such action taken since Daniel Levy’s exit.

Frank’s position has naturally been questioned but Venkatesham is faced with problems that a managerial change alone will not solve.

Venkatesham's boardroom role in helping transform the culture at Arsenal on and off the pitch was incredibly impressive. Doing something similar on the other side of north London would undoubtedly be his greatest achievement yet.

Frank’s crucial fixtures

There is no more pressing consideration for Venkatesham right now than Frank's future.

The pair have a close relationship, speaking at least every other day, and Venkatesham was key to the recruitment process that looked at more than 30 candidates before deciding on Frank.