Daniel Levy stepped down as Tottenham executive chairman in a shock move on Thursday after a controversial reign lasting nearly 25 years.

Levy was the driving force behind Tottenham’s £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) stadium and state of the art training centre.

But the 63-year-old was a polarising figure among Tottenham fans, with numerous protests against him during difficult spell for the Premier League team.

Levy, who was the longest-serving chairman in the Premier League, had come under fire more than ever over the last few seasons.

A series of failed managerial appointments and the club’s transfer policy infuriated supporters and turned up the heat on Levy, who was accused of caring more about the club’s financial profits than success on the pitch.

READ ALSO:Boeing Seeks New Workers To Replace Striking Union Staff In U.S

Tottenham endured their worst top-flight finish since 1976-77 last season, coming 17th before salvaging the campaign by winning the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League.

That success — which ended Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought — was not enough to spare boss Ange Postecoglou from Levy’s wrath as the Australian was sacked after two turbulent seasons in charge.

Levy hired Thomas Frank from Brentford to replace Postecoglou in the last significant decision of his reign.

“I am incredibly proud of the work I have done together with the executive team and all our employees. We have built this club into a global heavyweight competing at the highest level,” Levy said in a statement.

“More than that, we have built a community. I was lucky enough to work with some of the greatest people in this sport, from the team at Lilywhite House and Hotspur Way to all the players and managers over the years.

READ ALSO:Police Reveal Where Missing BBNaija Twins’ Brother, Odera Mbadiwe Was Found

“I wish to thank all the fans that have supported me over the years. It hasn’t always been an easy journey but significant progress has been made. I will continue to support this club passionately.”

Vinai Venkatesham was hired as Tottenham’s chief executive officer in April, while Peter Charrington joined the board in March and will step into the newly created role of Non-Executive Chairman.

– ‘A new era of leadership’ –

“I am very honoured to become Non-Executive Chairman of this extraordinary Club and, on behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Daniel and his family for their commitment and loyalty to the Club over so many years,” Charrington said.

“This is a new era of leadership for the club, on and off the pitch. I do recognise there has been a lot of change in recent months as we put in place new foundations for the future.

“We are now fully focused on stability and empowering our talented people across the Club, led by Vinai and his executive team.”

READ ALSO:Ghana Land Dispute Clashes Kill 31, Displace 48,000

Since Levy took the reins in 2001, Tottenham had won just two trophies, with the 2008 League Cup followed by the long wait that ended with last season’s Europa League final victory over Manchester United.

Levy became renowned for his ruthless sacking of managers as the likes of Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino and Nuno Espirito Santo were dismissed.

Tottenham’s best period under Levy came during Pochettino’s spell.

The Argentine led Tottenham to three successive top three finishes in the Premier League and reached the 2019 Champions League final.

Even Pochettino couldn’t escape Levy’s axe, but the spotlight eventually turned on the chairman.

READ ALSO:Jonathan In Edo, Says Nigeria’s Politics Full Of Betrayals

Tottenham fans were furious as their side spluttering badly last season and a difficult summer transfer window, which saw the club miss out on Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze only increased the pressure on Levy.

One banner displayed last season at Levy’s pride and joy — the gleaming 62,000-capacity stadium that opened in 2019 — summed up the divisive nature of his reign.

“24 years, 16 managers, 1 trophy – time for change” it said.

While Tottenham eventually added a trophy to that meagre haul in the Levy era, the disillusioned supporters have finally got their wish.

There will be no changes to the ownership or shareholder structure of the club following Levy’s departure.

Boeing workers down tools, halting 737 MAX production
Boeing is launching a recruitment drive to find “permanent” manufacturing workers to replace US union employees who went on strike last month, the company said Thursday.

The company is posting job requirements for the roles and plans a job fair on September 16, Boeing vice president Dan Gillian said in an email to staff seen by AFP.

About 3,200 employees based in the midwestern states of Missouri and Illinois walked off the job on August 4 after voting down a contract.

READ ALSO:How Thief Stole Aeroplane At Airport 22 Years After Two Men Went Away With Boeing 727

Gillian said Boeing has maintained its pace of deliveries and testing related to new product development since the strike began, but that it was moving to the “next step in our contingency plan” due to the lack of progress on negotiations.

“We have consistently communicated we are willing to consider changes to our best and final offer that are within the current economic framework,” Gillian said. “Unfortunately, the union continues to demand more of everything while also saying it has no control over what it will take to end the strike, driving the parties further apart.”

The International Association of Machinists & Aerospace did not immediately reply to a response for comment.

READ ALSO:Passengers’ Traffic: Anxiety As local Airlines Raise Alarm Over Consistent Decline

Earlier Thursday, the union said on the X social media platform that it wanted more than just “minor adjustments” to pay and benefits

“Boeing says they won’t do any better. IAM members in Saint Louis say we won’t accept that,” the union said on X.

Communal clashes in northern Ghana that started late last month have killed at least 31 people and displaced nearly 50,000, officials said Thursday, with more than 13,000 fleeing across the border into Ivory Coast.

The violence in Ghana’s Savannah Region broke out on August 24 in the village of Gbiniyiri, near the Ivorian border, the result of an escalating land dispute that has engulfed a dozen communities.

The conflict began when the local chief sold a parcel of land to a private developer, without broader community consent. When the developer attempted to access the land to begin work, residents resisted violently.

Frustration reached a peak when the chief’s palace was set on fire.

READ ALSO:Ghana’s President Sacks Chief Justice Over Corruption Allegations

Communal conflicts over land and chieftaincy disputes are recurrent in Ghana’s north, though displacement on this scale is rare.

Interior Minister Mubarak Muntaka said in a radio interview Thursday that 13,253 Ghanaians had crossed into Ivory Coast, citing figures from Ivorian authorities.

Philippe Hien, president of the Bounkani regional council, told AFP that “there are 13,000 people who have arrived in 17 villages” in the area, which is already home to 30,000 refugees from conflict-hit Burkina Faso.

Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) said around 48,000 people had been forced from their homes, mostly women and children.

READ ALSO:Three Ghanaian Nationals Extradited To US In $100m Online Fraud Case

“For the past five days we haven’t had any gunshots, killings or attacks,” Savannah Regional NADMO Director Zakaria Mahama told AFP, adding that many displaced are beginning to return home.

Both Mahama and Muntaka confirmed the toll of 31 dead.

Some families are sheltering several dozen relatives in cramped rooms, while those in makeshift displacement camps often only have one meal a day, Mahama said.

READ ALSO:FULL LIST: Ghana Releases Identities Of Helicopter Crash Victims

On the security front, Muntaka said more than 700 military and police officers had been deployed and a curfew instituted.

Savannah Regional Minister Salisu Bi-Awuribe said calm was gradually returning as chiefs and elders worked with security agencies to prevent further clashes.

Authorities fear food shortages after families abandoned farms and livestock during the exodus.

An investigative committee is being set up with traditional rulers and the National Peace Council to probe the causes and promote reconciliation.