Ange Postecoglou says he is fighting to rid Tottenham of a mole in the camp who is leaking sensitive injury and team news which is damaging to his match preparations. The manager, who made clear the individual was not a player or one of their agents, chose to go public out of exasperation and in the hope the person will come to his or her senses and stop.
Postecoglou, who is under fire after a disappointing season, has spoken of late about the challenges he has faced in creating the right culture at Spurs. He has asked why, for example, he is almost always the lone spokesperson for the club and wondered why there were no other strong voices, including pundits, who defended their positions in public. Mole-gate is the latest issue although, according to Postecoglou, it dates back to the beginning of last season.
The subject came up as Postecoglou was questioned about Wilson Odobert’s fitness and at about the same time – on an unrelated note – that Spurs announced the hire of the former Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham. He will join in the summer and take the same title that he held at Arsenal, which would appear to be bad news for Spurs’s chief football officer, Scott Munn.
It was widely reported on Thursday that Odobert had hurt a hamstring and, that night, the winger was an unused substitute in the 1-1 home draw against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-final first leg.
“There is no doubt we have got a leak inside the club – somebody who continues to leak out information,” Postecoglou said, during a break in the preparations for Sunday’s Premier League game at Wolves. “It just makes our job more difficult because we don’t want on-game-day opposition being aware of any sort of team selection.
“We’ve narrowed it down. We’ve been looking at it for quite a while and we have a fair idea of where it is coming from. It’s disappointing because you’d like to think everyone who is in our camp is working with us, not against us.”
It was put to Postecoglou that disgruntled players had long complained to their agents who, in turn, chatted to journalists. “It’s not agents, definitely not agents,” Postecoglou said. “The stuff that is coming out is pretty specific. The language used is not used by agents, trust me.
“It’s definitely not the players because for me the information that is getting out is … Look, I’ve always said, especially with medical information, I’m really, really careful [with it]. I know everyone thinks these things should be carte blanche in terms of information flow but I’m still very respectful in terms of medical records and how much information we actually give on certain things.
“The fact that it is getting out is unacceptable from a club perspective. I’ve got enough challenges out there without adding more.”
Postecolgou agreed that culture was one of the most important things in any organisation. “One hundred per cent,” he said. “That’s the bit that we’re constantly trying to change, trying to get the club to a place where there is a real strong mentality and identity of who we are. And to protect that and make sure we have the right professional mindset in every aspect.”
Postecoglou said there were “various ways” of uncovering a mole, which led to mention of Coleen Rooney and the infamous Wagatha Christie case. “You just look where the information goes and it’s pretty easy to figure out,” he said. “There’s always a bit of detective work in football management. This is a cultural thing. I’m big on creating a culture of success and I don’t think successful organisations behave in that manner.”
Who would be Postecoglou’s fictional detective of choice? “Reacher,” he replied. “Just get out the big bat and pummel people!”
Postecoglou desperately needs to win the Europa League to make up for his team’s domestic underachievement and give him a chance to remain in the job. He had a quip at the ready when he discussed the future of Son Heung-min, whose contract expires in June 2026. “At the end of the season, there will be a point of review where we look at where we are as a squad and do some forward-planning – if I’m here, mate,” he said.
Munn has to be feeling the heat, too. The Australian was appointed in April 2023, although he would not start at Spurs until September of that year after a delayed exit from his previous role as the chief executive of the City Football Group China. Postecoglou was hired in June 2023.
Munn was placed in charge of all footballing departments, including medical – which has come under such scrutiny during a season of injury misery. It is understood Venkatesham will take responsibility for all operational matters on and off the field. The 44-year-old, who left Arsenal at the end of last season after 14 years there in a variety of roles – mainly commercial – was formerly a member of the board and executive committee of the European Club Association.
